Why Is Nobody Talking About the Perfect QB2 for the Vikings?
The quarterback carousel has dominated the conversation in Minnesota’s offseason. Sam Darnold departed to Seattle after the rumor mill had gone crazy for a couple of months, but the Vikings decided he wasn’t worth a long-term commitment. The franchise looks to be in J.J. McCarthy’s hands in 2025.
Why Is Nobody Talking About the Perfect QB2 for the Vikings?
McCarthy was drafted tenth overall last April, and the Vikings have done nothing but praise him ever since. His torn meniscus was a big blow, but he even knocked the recovery out of the park.
Now fully healthy, the quarterback is ready for the next step, and the Vikings are expected to name him their QB1 at some point this offseason. Still, there’s some uncertainty. McCarthy hasn’t thrown a pass in the NFL, and an injury has never helped a player (except for Adrian Peterson in 2012).
For that reason, the Vikings need to pair him with a reliable QB2, someone who could lead the offense if McCarthy is sidelined for injury or performance reasons.
Daniel Jones was the first choice for the job, but he decided to challenge Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis. Last year’s QB2 Nick Mullens headed to Jacksonville, but Minnesota likely wanted to upgrade anyway.
Now, the rumor mill is exploding once again. Jameis Winston is reportedly a candidate, and people (primarily non-Vikings fans) really want to see Aaron Rodgers copy Brett Favre’s career path and finish his NFL journey in purple.
Nobody, however, mentions the perfect option: Joe Flacco.
Flacco reached the magical age number of 40 in January. He is on the tail end of his career, but unlike Rodgers, he has been a backup for years.
Ever since the Ravens benched him for Lamar Jackson halfway through the 2018 season, Flacco has been a backup or bridge quarterback. He hasn’t started more than nine games in a season since 2017.
Since his Ravens chapter closed, he has had stints with the Broncos, Jets, Browns, and Colts. Just last season, the Colts briefly benched Richardson for him. In the previous year, he shockingly guided the Browns to the playoffs behind an excellent defense and his gunslinger mentality. With the Jets, he backed up Zach Wilson and Darnold, starting games in three different years with the franchise.
Flacco brings the necessary experience to the table, having started 191 career games, including a deep postseason run that ended with a Super Bowl victory. He has seen a ton throughout his career, which he could now teach McCarthy.
In addition to that, his play style is built for backup duties. He is an unafraid passer who is willing to push the ball down the field to give his receivers a chance. The Vikings employ some excellent contested catch players, such as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, who just need chances to make plays.
If McCarthy was forced to miss a game or two, Flacco would give the Vikings a chance to win, especially if the defense could hold up and he had the experience to mentor the young QB1.
It’s a match made in heaven, yet nobody mentions his name.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt