After Feasting on Buffet of Options, The Vikings See Vital Position Become “Complete”
For a little while, the Vikings were moving ahead with J.J. McCarhty and Brett Rypien.
Then March arrived. Free agency got going and the Vikings weren’t shy about participating in the festivities. There was, nevertheless, a reluctance to hand over some cash to an experienced backup and/or competitor for Mr. McCarthy.
The inactivity led to an eye toward the 2025 NFL Draft. The event led to some reinforcements — namely, Sam Howell and Max Brosmer — but in an unorthodox way. After all, Howell is a passer who is heading into his fourth season while Brosmer was added within undrafted free agency.
Presently, the team is less than week away from the beginning of the regular season. Howell is a goner (Eagles); so, too, is Rypien (Bengals). Carson Wentz got signed and Max Brosmer is an upside QB3. All of that led Kevin O’Connell to proclaim the quarterback room as being “complete.”
The Vikings Now See a Complete QB Room
The proclamation occurred within the press conference that O’Connell shared with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on August 28th.
Per O’Connell, there’s much appeal when things come around to the brain that Wentz offers. In particular, there’s a reference to recent work in Kansas City and Los Angeles, the operations being led by Andy Reid and Sean McVay. Partner being “really smart” with “the physical presence of a guy that big and strong.” O’Connell sees the appeal.
“There’s an above the neck quality to him,” O’Connell further explains, “where I think we’ve, we’ll bring him in and try to get as comfortable as we can with him.” All of those thoughts lead the head coach to his proclamation: “I think we’ve got a complete [quarterback] room.”
Carson Wentz, in short, is being looked at as someone who finishes off the quarterback position. He offers a great blend of size, experience, draft pedigree, and intellect. Possessing all of those things will complement the unproven upside of J.J. McCarthy alongside the workmanlike potential present with Max Brosmer.
Standing at 6’5″ and weighing roughly 235 pounds, Mr. Wentz has the ideal build to be an NFL passer. Note, as well, that we’re talking about someone who ran a 4.77 forty, a speedy time for a passer so beefy.
His career got started when the Eagles made him the No. 2 selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has since played in 98 games, starting 94. His career completion percentage comes in at 62.7% while climbing up to 22,410 yards, 153 touchdowns, and 67 interceptions.
Wentz finishes off what has been a wild year for Minnesota’s quarterback position. Kevin Seifert of ESPN offered a succinct summary of what 2025 has involved at the game’s most important position:
Of course, the final line — the TBD between Max Brosmer and Brett Rypien — has now been settled, largely due to the Carson cocktail of size, brains, experience, and past success. Rypien offered some of that (the brains, in particular) but that’s no longer needed since the QB2 offers plenty of other intriguing abilities.
The Vikings onboarded Carson Wentz on a bargain deal, getting the Super Bowl champion to the Twin Cities for the low cap charge that’s sitting at just $1.255 million, per Tom Pelissero. Gone are the days of paying Kirk Cousins top dollar for strong but not elite play. All of McCarthy, Wentz, and Brosmer combine to have a cap charge a decent clip below $10 million in 2025.
All that matters moving forward is that the Vikings’ “complete” quarterback room lives up to its potential so that a loaded Minnesota roster can do damage within the NFL.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
