Unpopular QB2 Strategy Could Really Be an Option for Vikings
The QB rumor mill has gone crazy this offseason in Minnesota. J.J. McCarthy is expected to be the QB1 for the Vikings in the upcoming season, and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah emphasized that at Wednesday’s press conference, although he didn’t fully confirm it.
Unpopular QB2 Solution Could Really Be an Option for Vikings
Because the sophomore is an unproven commodity in addition to coming off an injury, it has been the predominant expectation that the Vikings would add an experienced passer, someone who could take the reins and keep the season alive if needed. Guys like Joe Flacco, Ryan Tannehill, Carson Wentz, or the already-signed Jameis Winston and Gardner Minshew have been linked to the Vikings.
However, what if they aren’t in the market for one of those guys because the guy under contract is internally viewed as the QB2 solution? Brett Rypien is the man’s name, and he arrived after last year’s preseason.
Adofo-Mensah praised Rypien, who was the QB3 for the entire 2024 campaign. Asked if Aaron Rodgers could still be an option, he said Wednesday:
“Right now, given all our scenario planning, we’re happy with our room. Obviously, we’re going to talk a lot about J.J. McCarthy, but Brett Rypien, who [is] somebody we brought in last offseason, we thought [he] made a lot of great decisions, quick decision-making, processing, better athlete than people give him credit for, accurate passer, so we’re excited about him.”
That doesn’t sound like Rypien is a guy who they are desperate to replace, does it?
Adofo-Mensah added that they are still looking through their options. A quarterback could still be added later in the offseason, especially after the post-draft deadline, which affects the compensatory picks. Still, there have been plenty of QB signings for a low salary, which would also preserve the comp picks, so that can’t be the big reason why the Vikings haven’t brought in another quarterback.
That leads us back to Rypien, who has drawn praise wherever he went in his career and is seemingly a superstar for coaches, as he keeps getting backup and depth jobs, but the on-field success hasn’t been there for him.
He went undrafted in 2019 and signed with the Denver Broncos, moving between the practice squad and the 53-man roster for four years and seeing game action in eight contests, including three starts.
In 2023, when Matthew Stafford had to sit out a game, the Rams started backup Rypien. The game was lost, and the passer was released after the final whistle. He then had stints with the Seahawks and the Jets. In March, he signed with the Bears, but Chicago released him ahead of the cutdown deadline.
Quite surprisingly, the Vikings waived Jaren Hall after his second preseason with the team and hired the former Boise State signal-caller to take his spot behind Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens. He hasn’t played a snap for the Vikings, but the franchise re-signed him shortly after the season concluded.
In his six-year career, Rypien has played ten games, starting in four. He has thrown for 950 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions, which is quite a terrible ratio.
At this point, the depth chart should be McCarthy at one, Rypien at two. He would be a downgrade from Mullens, at least on paper, and there are still some prominent backup QB candidates available.
Regardless, it’s Rypien’s job to lose until the franchise makes a move.
He will turn 29 in July.
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