Vikings Linked to “Best Bridge QB”
It took the Vikings ten years to draft another quarterback in the first round between Teddy Bridgewater and J.J. McCarthy. The regime around Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah tried to replace Kirk Cousins with the rookie, but one year and 12 games in, that hasn’t worked one bit.
Vikings Linked to “Best Bridge QB”
McCarthy has struggled to stay healthy, playing only six games so far. And those six games weren’t pretty for the most part. With him still being a massive unknown and very little time to erase the concerns, the Vikings are widely expected to do what the Indianapolis Colts did this year when they acquired Daniel Jones to compete with Anthony Richardson.
A veteran is needed. There are a bunch of possible candidates. Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox thinks Joe Flacco makes sense.
Knox wrote about the veteran, “Joe Flacco will turn 41 in February but has shown he is still capable of holding down a starting job. He opened the year as Cleveland’s bridge QB but was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals when Joe Burrow went down with a toe injury. Flacco started mere days after arriving in Cincinnati and fared well in the offense. Though he only went 1-5 as a starter during Burrow’s absence, he threw for 1,636 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.”
Flacco won the Super Bowl with the Ravens in the year Adrian Peterson won MVP. It was that long ago. After another half-decade as the starter in Baltimore, he was replaced by Lamar Jackson and has bounced around since. His team collection includes the Denver Broncos, New York Jets (twice), Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns (twice), Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Knox continued, “The seasoned vet has 201 starts on his resume and enough experience to pick up just about any offense quickly. Though he’s a pure pocket passer, his arm talent and recognition skills usually allow him to beat the blitz while attacking all areas of the field. He’ll be looking for another starting opportunity in the spring and hopes that his time in Cincinnati earns him one.”
Skol Nation would appreciate any capable option. Flacco struggled in Cleveland but showed that he can get his weapons the ball after the trade to Cincinnati. The Vikings have playmakers who haven’t gotten the ball enough this season.
Knox linked Flacco to the Vikings, “Flacco’s talent, leadership skills and experience should make him the top target for any team seeking a bridge quarterback. He would be an ideal get for the Minnesota Vikings, who still haven’t seen J.J. McCarthy develop into a reliable starter. Whether the Vikings decide to replace McCarthy outright or simply sit him behind a veteran for a bit—as the Carolina Panthers did with Bryce Young in his second season as a starter—Flacco would be the perfect addition to their QB room.”
Funny but true: The 40-year-old was part of Kevin O’Connell’s draft class in 2008. After last year’s game against the Colts, in which Flacco started over Richardson, O’Connell told Flacco that he could still sling it.
He’s just one of various candidates. Kyler Murray could become available. Mac Jones has been part of the rumor mill. Old friends and foes, Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins, might be willing to quarterback the purple squad.
Knox concluded, “Flacco would have plenty to teach McCarthy about what it takes to succeed in the NFL, and he’d give fans plenty of excitement while doing it. Watching him sling it to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson would be a lot more fun than watching Minnesota’s offense has been in 2025.”
Given his 2025 tape, McCarthy has plenty of things to learn until he’s truly ready to lead a team to the playoffs. He’s now 2-4 with eight touchdowns (six passing and two rushing) and an unacceptable ten interceptions. The sophomore has logged a pick in every game he’s participated in.
Flacco is an option. The Vikings will be linked to every remotely possible QB over the next three months. Buckle up.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.