Vikings Reportedly Inquired about QB2 Option
The quarterback carousel has dominated free agency for the Vikings, with three departed passers and an ongoing search for a new backup for presumed first-year starter J.J. McCarthy. The rumor mill includes numerous names, but with the dwindling number of available players, fans have become impatient.
Vikings Reportedly Inquired about QB2 Option
Behind closed doors, the Vikings have undoubtedly tried to find an answer. The good news is that there are still more than enough candidates, including prominent names like Jameis Winston, Ryan Tannehill, and Carson Wentz.
On Monday, Albert Breer (Si.com) reported on one inquiry the Vikings made.
“Joe Flacco visited the Giants last week—which was a way, I think, for the team to check him out, and for Flacco to get his name back in circulation,” Breer wrote Monday. “Yes, he’s 40. But as a one-year solution, at a way cheaper rate than Cousins or Rodgers, I think the guy can still play. And the Browns, Steelers and Vikings think enough of him still to have checked on him.”
Joe Flacco, after last year’s starters Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, is probably the most established potential answer for Minnesota’s QB gig. Once Baltimore’s franchise quarterback, the veteran has bounced around in comparable roles he would have in the Twin Cities.
If a team needs a high-end backup who can start a handful of games and even lead teams to victories, Flacco is that guy. He could reunite with center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries, the pass protectors from his Colts days.
The Indianapolis franchise employed the 40-year-old last season and swapped him for Daniel Jones, formerly of the Vikings. Anthony Richardson, Jones’ new competitor, was benched in favor of Flacco last season right ahead of the Vikings game. Ultimately, Richardson returned to the lineup a few games later.
In the previous season, Flacco saved Cleveland’s campaign after coming out of nowhere, guiding the Browns to the playoffs (behind the best defense in the league). From 2021 to 2022, the veteran tried to mentor Zach Wilson, and he started games in both years for the Jets. He also crossed paths with Sam Darnold in New York and replaced him for a handful of games in 2020.
Before that three-year stint (with a short stop in Philadelphia), the Broncos hired him in 2019 to fix their ongoing quarterback problems but quickly realized that Flacco wasn’t the solution. The Ravens benched their longtime starter in 2018 for Lamar Jackson and never looked back.
In 196 career games (191 starts), the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year has registered 45,697 passing yards, 257 passing touchdowns, and 162 interceptions.
He brings experience like few others to the table and has the ability to satisfyingly replace McCarthy for a few games if needed. Flacco also wouldn’t break the bank.
He visited the Giants last week. Like the Browns and Steelers, the Vikings could view Flacco as a one-year stopgap starter. More likely, however, is his return to QB2 duties.
Coming off an injury with zero career pass attempts, McCarthy’s uncertainty as a starter makes the Vikings an intriguing destination for a backup passer because starting games in 2025 is realistic.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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