Vikings Emerge as Sleeper Team for Future Franchise QB

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Vikings Emerge as Sleeper Team for Future Franchise QB

Vikings Emerge as Sleeper Team for Future Franchise QB — Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches from the sideline during the first half against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 23, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. O’Connell monitored Minnesota’s offense and game management as the Vikings battled their NFC North rival in a pivotal late-season divisional road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

Dustin Baker · Vikings Territory

Wed, May 27, 2026 ·

5 min read

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The 2027 NFL Draft is still 11 months away, but when we get there, the Minnesota Vikings could be a sneaky contender to draft a Round 1 quarterback, according to ESPN.

Minnesota may have clarity by next spring, though the long-term quarterback door is still cracked open.

Jordan Reid named-dropped Minnesota in a deep analysis of 2027 rookie quarterbacks, setting the stage for a pivotal year in the Twin Cities.

A Future QB Pivot Remains on the Table for Vikings — Evidently

Back to the drawing board?

Arch Manning stands on the field during Texas’ CFP matchup against Clemson in Austin. Vikings quarterback — Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning stands on the field against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National Playoff first round on Dec. 21, 2024, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Manning helped lead Texas during the nationally televised postseason matchup as the Longhorns opened their College Football Playoff run at home. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

ESPN on Vikings as Sleeper for 2027 Rookie QB

Reid sized up the entire 2027 quarterback class and noted at the end of his article , “What is a sleeper team to watch at quarterback? Minnesota Vikings. They are in the middle of a QB competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy for the starting job, with Carson Wentz behind them as the QB3.”

“If Murray and McCarthy don’t drastically improve from what they put on tape last season, Minnesota could be looking for its next franchise signal-caller as soon as the 2027 draft.”

If the Vikings need to use a 1st-Round pick on a quarterback next April, the franchise will be truly back at square one.

The Candidates — a Year Out

These men still have a full season of college football afoot, but here are the Top 12 collegiate quarterbacks from a May 2026 perspective:

Arch Manning (Texas)
Dante Moore (Oregon)
Darian Mensah ( Miami )
Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State)
Julian Sayin (Ohio State)
Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)
LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
CJ Carr (Notre Dame)
Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech)
Sam Leavitt (LSU)
Jayden Maiava (USC)
Demond Williams ( Washington )

The 1st-Round, believe it or not, could feature around eight passers off the board. It’s why everyone is gushing about next year’s draft .

LaNorris Sellers drops back to pass during South Carolina’s game against Virginia Tech in Atlanta. Vikings quarterback — South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers drops back to pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half on Aug. 31, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Sellers continued his emergence as one of college football’s intriguing quarterbacks during South Carolina’s season-opening neutral-site matchup against Virginia Tech. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.

Reid on Sellers , who could be available at Minnesota’s spot: “Sellers is an explosive dual-threat passer with A-level attributes such as arm power, mobility and strength. He was labeled as one of the top 2026 prospects entering the 2025 season thanks to his ability to throw an excellent deep ball, but he went back to school after an inconsistent year.”

“He has a great feel for the trajectory and touch on long passes and can ‘drop it in the bucket’ when attacking downfield. His compact release helps him fire the ball into condensed windows in the intermediate areas of the field. He’s also a game-changer on designed QB runs and scrambles. Though he didn’t have the best 2025 season (2,437 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions), his traits and potential are still major selling points.”

Hopefully One Is Not Needed

The Vikings have Murray and McCarthy in the house to duel for the QB1 job, with a side dish of Carson Wentz if injuries arise. Between Murray and McCarthy — both have 1st-Round pedigrees — one should emerge as the long-term solution.

Murray has the arm strength, speed, passing accuracy, and motivation — the Arizona Cardinals did not want him, and that’s pretty damn insulting — to succeed, especially with Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback-whispering tutelage.

McCarthy has youth in his toolkit. At 23, the guy’s upside has yet to shine through fully. He doesn’t quite possess the same glorious physical attributes, but he’s not a chump, he already seems to have the clutch gene, and he’s typical quarterback size, unlike Murray.

Ideally, the Vikings won’t have to do serious Round 1 homework on quarterbacks in February, March, and April.

Dante Moore walks off the field during Oregon’s annual spring game at Autzen Stadium. Vikings quarterback — Oregon quarterback Dante Moore walks off the field during the Ducks’ annual spring game on Apr. 25, 2026, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. Moore participated in Oregon’s offseason showcase as the Ducks evaluated their roster and quarterback outlook ahead of the upcoming 2026 college football season. Mandatory Credit: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Our Janik Eckardt on the Vikings’ need for a quarterback next offseason: “Of course, the Vikings hope that conversation becomes irrelevant by next spring. The ideal scenario is either McCarthy taking a major leap in Year 3 or Murray reviving his career under Kevin O’Connell and locking down the position long-term.”

“But the organization has intentionally given itself flexibility at quarterback, and that flexibility cuts both ways. If neither passer takes control of the job in 2026, Minnesota could realistically enter next offseason as one of the league’s most intriguing quarterback-hungry teams.”

Other Roster Needs Next Draft

But that doesn’t mean Minnesota’s roster is totally set. Before seeing the 2026 regular season play out, these are the probable long-term roster needs if one believes a quarterback won’t be needed:

Outside Linebacker
Cornerback
Running Back
Tight End

In fact, the Vikings are overdue to draft an EDGE rusher, especially with Jonathan Greenard now playing for the Philadelphia Eagles . They’ve drafted just one — Dallas Turner — in the last 20 years from Round 1.

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