The Vikings’ Timeline for Adding a Passable Backup Passer May Extend for Several More Months
Currently, the Vikings’ backup quarterback spot is leading to some consternation. Losing out on Joe Flacco, Case Keenum, and Drew Lock can do that, especially since so many other backups have been scooped up.
One wonders, then, about the timeline for adding someone else to that quarterback room. The consensus appears to be that waiting until after the 2025 NFL Draft is the way to go, thereby preserving the team’s precious compensatory picks. Every day that passes, though, exposes Minnesota to the risk of missing out on yet another option. Do the Vikings actually have their sights set on a different time to sign a strong(er) QB2?
The Vikings’ Backup Passer May Arrive in August
Turn back the clock to when Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah first took over.
The 2022 Vikings were still firmly within the Kirk Cousins era. Backing up the steady veteran were Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond, a pair of options who inspired little confidence. Minnesota didn’t get in a hurry to rectify the issue, instead waiting until late August.
Nick Mullens was working for the Raiders. Minnesota fired off a low-risk trade for the journeyman, bringing him to the Twin Cities in on August 22nd of 2022 to function as the top backup.
Oh, and one more thing to keep in mind: the Vikings did have a QB3 during that season. David Blough, someone cut by the Lions on August 31st, 2022, became a Viking on September 2nd, 2022. So that’s two passers gone on August 30th of 2022 — Mannion and Mond — with replacements arriving on August 22nd and September 2nd.
More recently, a different example popped up, one that operated on a similar timeline.
Going into the 2024 season, the Vikings knew that top backup (QB1?) J.J. McCarthy was lost for the season due to his knee injury. What remained was Sam Darnold, Mullens, and Jaren Hall. Even still, the Vikings’ top decision makers made a move that they felt was in the best interest of the quarterback depth: bringing Brett Rypien to town.
The Chicago Bears moved on from Rypien on August 27th, 2024. The Minnesota Vikings welcomed Rypien on August 29th, 2024.
Stand back to assess the three seasons with Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell calling the shots. On two occasions, the top twosome opted for a new quarterback in late August: Mullens in ’22 and Rypien in ’24. Other teams worked through their training camp and preseason, conducting quarterback competitions that resulted in someone being squeezed out. On a pair of occasions, the Vikings were quite happy to move in to scoop up the depth option who didn’t make the cut elsewhere.
One then thinks of the forgotten season, at least in terms of what we’ve been discussing in this piece: the 2023 season where Minnesota cycled through four quarterbacks. All of Cousins, Mullens, Hall, and Josh Dobbs took turns taking starts. The glaring caveat within that list of passers is simply that Mr. Dobbs got added during the season, learning the plays on the fly after being inserted into his debut game in purple due to an in-game injury.
Of course, Minnesota won’t be looking to replicate that kind of quarterback addition (and that’s no insult to Dobbs, someone who demonstrated tremendous leadership and intelligence to pull off an impossible feat). Adding a midseason passer is an act of desperation, something that occurred due to a three-deep position getting walloped by injury. The Vikings will be hoping for much better health.
The point, folks, is simply that the leadership group has a history of being very patient. On two occasions, the Vikings’ quarterback depth got solidified in late August (2022 & 2024). Due to some wild injury luck (bad luck, that is), the Vikings beefed up the depth during a season that was already underway (2023).
The possibility exists that Minnesota moves into the 2025 NFL Draft with a passer or two whom they’d feel comfortable adding with a draft pick. Good chance there’s at least a few more who are of interest as UDFA additions.
Making a move in this way would bring the total up to three passers: J.J. McCarthy at QB1, Brett Rypien at QB2, and late-round QB/UDFA QB at QB3. Minnesota could then assess that setup for a full offseason while keeping their eyes peeled during August to see who is showing potential around the NFL. When someone gets put on the trade market or released, Minnesota could move in for an addition.
The track record suggests that it’s an option that shouldn’t shock us even if there would be more than a few uncomfortable Vikings fans.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.