Vikings Could Have Dibs on Veteran QBs, Says Insider
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback question overshadows everything in the Vikings’ universe at this phase of the offseason. Kevin O’Connell and Rob Brzezinski could go down several paths to fill the void. The good news is that they can seemingly pick their favorite castoff, according to a comment from NFL reporter Tom Pelissero.
The insider chatted with Tatum Everett of the Vikings Entertainment Network this week. He analyzed, “What the Vikings have to figure out is what is the sensible addition to that room, because they are not in any way giving up on J.J. McCarthy. He hasn’t had the time. Injuries have been a driving force of why he’s not been on the field. It’s hard to improve at the things you need to improve at, like all young quarterbacks, if you’re not out there.”
McCarthy certainly had a concerning first season as Minnesota’s starter, but he also showed glimpses of improvement down the stretch. Given his physical talent and the steps in the right direction, giving up on him brings the risk of losing another franchise quarterback. After the Sam Darnold debacle, the Vikings likely want to avoid that. It remains to be seen, though, if the Vikings have the patience to stick with him through the struggles.
Still, the club cannot enter a second season with only McCarthy as a realistic starter after already wasting a season with the same plan. Adding a strong backup or competition is crucial.
Who that is could depend on who’s willing to take a discount for the opportunity to start in a decent offense with a head coach who has shown the ability to elevate experienced quarterbacks.
Pelissero continued, “If you go trade, let’s say, hypothetically, a second-round pick for Mac Jones, it’s pretty clear Mac Jones is your starting quarterback. So you’ve gotta find that balance between getting somebody in who’s really going to push him and not expending a ton of resources to do it. One of those quarterbacks that’s got guaranteed money, that the Vikings could pay the minimum, if and when he’s released, they would probably have dibs on those guys because everyone wants to play quarterback in Minnesota.”
It is, indeed, tough to thread the needle between finding a good QB upgrade and avoiding paying a premium while making sure McCarthy isn’t entirely stuck in a backup role for years to come.
Players who might be able to sign for cheap, as they are getting paid by other organizations, include Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith and Kyler Murray, once they are cut by their employers. Aaron Rodgers played on a cheap contract last year, and the interest he had in playing under Kevin O’Connell in 2025 is well documented.
O’Connell, the Coach of the Year of the 2024 campaign, will be calling the shots in the upcoming season. The passer will also throw the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, barring any changes, and it’s hard to envision the offensive line being this banged up for another year.
All of that makes the Vikings a perfect spot to have a late-career renaissance or a Darnold-esque career explosion. When QBs weigh their options in free agency, the right situation often trumps the paycheck and the Vikings undoubtedly have one of the better quarterback surroundings in the NFL.
Pelissero’s comment ultimately reinforces what many around the league already believe: the Vikings are unlikely to force a high-cost quarterback move if a viable veteran becomes available at a reduced price. With McCarthy still viewed as part of the long-term plan, the priority appears to be competition and stability rather than a full reset at the position.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.