Vikings Reveal Clues for the QB Room
The main focus for the Minnesota Vikings this offseason is the quarterback position. Even ending the season on a five-game winning streak (mostly behind the outstanding defense) couldn’t overshadow the QB problems the Vikings had in 2025.
With the Scouting Combine approaching, this is the week fans can hear their decision-makers chat with the media and that’s precisely what head coach Kevin O’Connell and interim GM Rob Brzezinski did.
On Tuesday, they dropped some clues about the future of Minnesota’s quarterback position.
O’Connell told reporters when asked whether J.J. McCarthy would still be a franchise quarterback in his opinion, “It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was in the summer of 2024. And I have a responsibility — we have a responsibility collectively as we put together this team — to make sure that we use the data that we have at this time and the experiences we have.”
Much has been said about McCarthy’s struggles in his sophomore season. He suffered three separate injuries that cost him reps in 2025 and the reps he got were inconsistent at best.
O’Connell’s wording suggests the organization is reassessing its timeline at quarterback rather than fully abandoning its long-term belief in McCarthy. Job security might be different than a year or two ago and the organization might be in a win-now situation. Immediate results matter after a disappointing season.
With jobs on the line, it’s hard to enter a season with a developmental quarterback project rather than an established solution.
Top executive Brzezinski added fuel to the fire, saying: “We’re exploring every option that can be out there. What we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective. A lot of this has been J.J. in unfortunate situations with some of the injuries and things that he’s dealt with, but we’re going to explore every opportunity, and I don’t think there’s anything specifically we’re looking for. We can’t manufacture anything that’s not there. So, No. 1, what are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? All those things. There’s just a lot of factors that go into it.”
Neither of the two strongest voices within the building — outside of ownership — has committed to McCarthy. His comment on the baseline of quarterback play is another clue, hinting at an upgrade in the form of a veteran.
Think Kirk Cousins for a second. Whether you like him or not, he’d likely provide a level of QB play at an average level, or at least on a “not horrible” level if given the keys to Minnesota’s proverbial Ferrari. Even at this stage of his career, Cousins would likely provide a higher baseline level of passing stability than Minnesota had last season.
Of course, other options could do that, too.
Now that it seems like the obvious move is to get a veteran quarterback that one could at least sell as a starting-caliber passer, what actually are the options?
Brzezinski’s remark about not being able to manufacture anything that’s not there, he likely referred to trades in the Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert category. Neither was a realistic option, though the early offseason always includes some trade rumors.
A step or two below that Pro Bowl-caliber signal-caller on the market could be Cardinals’ Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins. Both had starting jobs to start the 2025 season, but not when it ended. Trades and releases are on the table.
Much of the speculation has centered around Mac Jones, but the San Francisco 49ers would have to be convinced to trade their backup QB. He clears the QB baseline, but the Vikings might want to hold on to their draft capital for once.
Another candidate is Malik Willis, who is a free agent. His asking price, however, might be too steep with multiple franchises needing a quarterback and he’s arguably the top free agent.
And then there’s the bucket of aging once-solid passers, including Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, and Derek Carr. Rodgers is a free agent, Cousins will soon be one and Carr would have to require a trade with the Saints.
A final category should be backup quarterbacks with some starting qualities. Free agents Joe Flacco and Marcus Mariota come to mind.
Neither O’Connell nor Brzezinski’s comments suggest the Vikings will enter camp without legitimate veteran competition in the quarterback room.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.