New Report Details Vikings’ Quarterback Plans for the Offseason
For the third consecutive offseason, the quarterback position will be a central storyline for the Minnesota Vikings. While injuries and inconsistency prevented J.J. McCarthy from providing definitive answers in 2025, a new report indicates the organization still views him as a core piece of its long-term plans, even as it explores ways to strengthen the position.
Speculation has been ongoing and will likely continue for a couple of months until the Vikings can address the QB room. The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini reported on Saturday:
“Quarterback J.J. McCarthy will return to the Minnesota Vikings next season, but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be the starter,” Russini wrote Saturday. “The Vikings were looking for emphatic proof this season that he’s the long-term answer, and because of a series of injuries, they never got it. Over the next few months, sources say, Minnesota plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room.”
McCarthy has played in nine games this season. Sunday’s meaningless season finale will be his tenth start in his first two campaigns. A knee injury last year, as well as ankle, hand and head injuries in 2025, have prevented him from getting more run.
Among the established names that could be available are pending free agents (among several others) Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota, Russell Wilson, or Aaron Rodgers, or trade candidates Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, or Jacoby Brissett.
Leaguewide, teams in similar situations often add veteran competition rather than making extensive changes.
Russini added, “Though Minnesota is open to bringing in veteran competition for the 22-year-old, O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have no plans to move on from the quarterback they traded up to draft less than two years ago. McCarthy’s continued development will be a central storyline for the Vikings as they enter an offseason filled with questions surrounding their aging and expensive roster.”
According to the national reporter, Minnesota’s leadership still intends to move forward with McCarthy as the QB1. Of course, seeing him develop into the guy they thought he could be when they pulled the trigger in the 2024 Draft would be the best-case outcome.
It’s unclear whether any of the aforementioned QB candidates would raise the team’s long-term ceiling. McCarthy reaching his potential would.
In his first season as a starter, McCarthy has not only struggled with injuries but also with adjusting to the NFL level.
His PFF grade ranks him 34th out of 40 eligible quarterbacks. His QBR (if he were eligible with more reps) would rank him 30th of 31 passers.
An optimist would look at McCarthy’s set of games and be encouraged because undoubtedly the two best contests were his 7th and 8th starts. The arrow — though in a small sample size — has been pointing up, and he has one more game to confirm that trend.
One of those optimists is his coach. Last week, head coach Kevin O’Connell praised McCarthy for his development over the previous weeks and months: “I’ve been really, really happy and proud of the way J.J., through the final stanza of the season here, was really, really took some big steps and grown. It’s been a blast being with him every day and being along that ride with him, although we’ve lost time. That doesn’t take away from the growth we’ve seen from J.J. He’s dialed in.”
McCarthy is still viewed as the future of the QB position in Minnesota, but expect the Vikings to pursue a strong alternative in case his injuries or on-field struggles continue. The identity of that person is anyone’s guess at this point.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.