Vikings’ QB Search Expands to Younger Trade Options
There is widespread expectation that the Vikings will add an experienced passer to the quarterback room to create competition or insurance for J.J. McCarthy. But the club could go in a different direction and hunt another young signal-caller.
ESPN’s Ben Solak analyzed the offseason’s QB market and came to the conclusion that the overall options aren’t great.
On Minnesota’s situation, he commented, “Minnesota will absolutely bring in competition for J.J. McCarthy, as it reportedly tried to do last season with Rodgers. Cousins is the obvious choice because he has scheme familiarity from his time in Minnesota as coach Kevin O’Connell’s starter.”
Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins were bound to be part of the QB rumor mill in the Twin Cities. Neither has been particularly efficient in the post-Achilles injury phase of their careers, but their 2025 play was still better than what transpired in Minnesota. Veterans have fared well in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, and the two former NFC North passers fulfill the experience angle most Vikings rumors revolve around.
Solak, however, isn’t ready to ignore young passers. He added, “But O’Connell is a big believer in quarterback development, and I would not be surprised if he wants to go for a younger player to challenge McCarthy’s seat not just in 2026 but also beyond. Every toolsy young passer who can operate from the pocket (Tanner McKee, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, etc.) is on my radar for a surprise Vikings trade.”
It all depends on the Vikings’ opinion of McCarthy. If they still view him as their franchise quarterback, a veteran to mentor him makes sense. Conversely, if they aren’t sure about his future outlook, why not bring in someone who could compete with him long-term for the role?
Solak named three players, and all three 2023 draftees could be gettable this offseason despite being under contract for the 2026 season.
Anthony Richardson
Indianapolis selected the physically gifted signal-caller 4th overall in 2023. He became a draft crush for many Vikings fans three years ago and it’s easy to see why. Richardson is 6’4″ and 244 lbs, running a 4-43 40-yard dash. His rocket arm is also one of the strongest in the NFL.
Coming into the league with limited experience, Richardson struggled in his first two seasons. It’s fair to question his durability after several injuries and he hasn’t displayed consistency as a passer. Doesn’t that sound familiar?
In three seasons, Richardson started 15 games. He has only attempted 350 passes, completing them at a miserable 50.6% rate for 11 touchdowns and 13 picks. On the ground, he has collected another 10 scores. When he’s dropping back, any given pass attempt could realistically be the best or the worst the league is seeing that week.
Last season, the Colts added Daniel Jones as competition and Richardson has barely been seen since. A nasty head injury in a freak accident in warm-ups didn’t help.
At the end of the day, Richardson is somehow an even more gifted and less refined QB than McCarthy. There’s a high ceiling but also a low floor, raising the question if he’s the right fit for the 2026 Vikings.
Will Levis
Levis entered the league as a traits-heavy prospect with a strong arm and a prototypical frame, which is why the Titans took a swing on him in the 2023 draft. Physically, he checks many of the boxes teams look for in a starting quarterback. He can drive the ball downfield, operate from the pocket, and has shown flashes of high-level throws that keep evaluators intrigued.
The issue has been consistency. Levis has struggled with decision-making and turnover-worthy plays, often oscillating between impressive stretches and head-scratching mistakes. His aggressive play style can create explosive plays, but it also puts the offense in difficult situations when things go wrong. In that sense, he’s another volatile projection rather than a steady stabilizer.
In three seasons, Levis has flashed starting-level tools, mixed with mind-boggling mistakes that land him in meme compilations rather than highlight reels. Coaching changes and roster problems in Tennessee didn’t exactly provide the most stable developmental environment either. Levis missed the entire 2025 season with a shoulder injury.
In 21 career games (all starts), Levis completed 61% of his passes, resulting in 3,899 yards, 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He offers some mobility, but has primarily operated like a pocket passer in his NFL career.
For Minnesota, the fit would revolve around development. Levis is more experienced than McCarthy, but still very much a work in progress. He offers upside as a pocket passer with arm talent, yet he wouldn’t solve the volatility problem that plagued the Vikings’ offense in 2025. Though he showed promise in the second half of the 2024 season, he would represent another high-variance bet in a room already defined by projection rather than certainty.
Tanner McKee
McKee is a very different archetype compared to Richardson and Levis. The former Stanford passer is a traditional pocket quarterback with size, poise, and a methodical playing style. He doesn’t rely on athleticism, but he operates comfortably within structure and is generally willing to take what the defense gives him.
In limited NFL action, McKee has looked composed and mechanically sound, showing decent processing and ball placement when asked to step in. His ceiling isn’t viewed as elite, but his floor could be higher than most young, toolsy passers because of his calm presence and functional decision-making.
The 2023 6th-rounder has appeared in 6 games with 2 starts, completing 61.4% of his passes for 5 touchdowns and 1 interception. He looked quite good when given the chance in Philadelphia.
The main question is opportunity. Buried on a depth chart with an established starter, McKee hasn’t had a full chance to prove whether he can handle a larger role. That uncertainty could make him a sneaky trade candidate if a team believes there’s untapped potential in a more quarterback-friendly system.
For the Vikings, McKee would fit the developmental philosophy Solak referenced. He can operate from the pocket, run the offense on schedule, and push McCarthy in a quieter way than a flashy addition. However, he’s unlikely to be viewed as a clear franchise solution. Instead, he would be more of a calculated developmental swing — a young passer who raises the floor of the QB room while still leaving the long-term ceiling question unanswered.
Taken together, the three names highlight a different path than the typical veteran fallback option. Richardson offers upside but volatility, Levis brings arm talent with inconsistency, and McKee represents a steadier developmental profile. If the Vikings truly explore this market, it would signal that the organization is thinking beyond short-term competition and more about long-term quarterback outcomes alongside McCarthy.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.