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4 QB Paths the Minnesota Vikings Can Take This Offseason
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- 4 QB Paths the Minnesota Vikings Can Take This Offseason
Kevin O’Connell Responds to Cris Carter’s QB Quip
There has been a lot of hoopla surrounding the Minnesota Vikings and the quarterback position so far this offseason.
That topic has only picked up steam in the aftermath of the firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last Friday, following which many talking points circulated that not everybody was on the same page with how the position was handled last offseason when Sam Darnold was let go.
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Now, the Vikings have to make a really big decision this offseason at that quarterback spot, which could shape the direction of the franchise for the next decade. With so many options being thrown out there, here are the four paths Minnesota can take at quarterback this offseason.
Stand Pat with J.J. McCarthy as the Sure Starter
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back and delivers a first-quarter throw at U.S. Bank Stadium, Jan 4, 2026, in Minneapolis against the Green Bay Packers. The snapshot captured McCarthy operating within the structure of the offense early, as Minnesota looked to establish rhythm and tempo during a high-stakes divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
This probably won't happen based on the Minnesota's current QB options, but technically, they could decide to just stick with what they have.
Perhaps there is no doubt that McCarthy is the starting quarterback heading into 2026, which wouldn't be entirely out of the realm of possibility after his fairly strong conclusion to the season prior to his hand injury, and they don't want to spend more money on the position when there are other pretty glaring needs on the roster.
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That being said, this is very unlikely to happen given McCarthy's concerning injury history over his first two NFL seasons. As of now, the Vikings only have Max Brosmer as the backup option behind their 2024 first-round pick. Brosmer was signed as an undrafted free agent last season, and when he did play last year while McCarthy was out with various injuries, it was pretty apparent he is not ready to start at the NFL level.
Bring in a Veteran Free Agent to Compete
Nov 21, 2022; Mexico City, MEX; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) celebrates after his touchdown pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Estadio Azteca. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images.
Let's say the Vikings are still plenty confident that McCarthy is capable of starting at the NFL level, but they just want to give him an extra "umph" of competition heading into training camp while also having an insurance policy in case the injury bug bites him again.
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There are a number of free agents out there who could be cheap enough to reasonably bring in as a backup quarterback while also pushing McCarthy in camp and potentially being an extra voice in his ear this season.
One name that comes to mind is Jimmy Garoppolo , who spent the 2025 season as the backup for the Los Angeles Rams . Vikings fans will remember that Kevin O'Connell came from Sean McVay's system before he took the head coaching job in Minnesota. Garoppolo also had plenty of experience with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco . If there is a veteran QB who will immediately be ready to play in O'Connell's system, it's hard to rationalize one better fitted for it than Garoppolo.
Trade for a Bonafide Starter
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Vikings could go down this path for a number of reasons.
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Perhaps they flat out don't believe McCarthy should be the starting quarterback moving forward, and Minnesota simply wants to turn the page by bringing in an established starter and not having to think about the position again for a few years.
On the other hand, maybe they think McCarthy can be a starter down the road, but the play he put on tape in 2025 showed the coaching staff and front office that the time for him to be under center is not right now if Minnesota wants to compete sooner than later.
Two names have continuously circulated around the Vikings if they were to try to trade for a true, bonafide starting quarterback: Kyler Murray and Joe Burrow .
Murray makes a bit of sense if they want to go all in on 2026 while still offering McCarthy a chance to develop and eventually start down the road. He is under contract through 2027, and while his cap hits of $52.66 million and $43.5 million over the next two years may seem daunting, they rank 8th and 10th in the NFL over those two years. The Vikings would also only eat $7.2 million of that $43.5 million in 2027 if they decided it was time to part ways.
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However, if the Vikings ended up going the Burrow option and somehow put together a package of picks and players to convince the Bengals to part with the 2020 No. 1 overall pick, that would instantly indicate they are building around their new quarterback for the long haul. Burrow is under contract through 2029 with ever growing cap numbers through that year.
Take Another Stab in the Draft
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) passes against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Given the depth of the QB class in this year's draft, this is probably the least likely option heading into 2026. Of course, Fernando Mendoza is being chalked in as the No. 1 overall pick this April whether that be to the Las Vegas Raiders or another team via trade.
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After that though, the options get thin in a hurry, especially now that Dante Moore has announced he will be going back to Oregon for another year.
The most obvious choice would be Ty Simpson out of Alabama, who is the other QB who could end up landing in the latter half of the first round or early in the second round. Simpson isn't the most physically gifted player with underwhelming size and arm speed, but he has tremendous poise in the pocket that could turn him into a starting caliber player at the NFL level.
In this scenario, Minnesota almost certainly would ship McCarthy out for picks. The question is: are the Vikings really ready to use another high end pick on a quarterback experiment without landing the best player in the class?
Editor's Note: Information from Spotrac helped with this article.
