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The Vikings’ Top 3 QB Acquisition Options: Ranked
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- The Vikings’ Top 3 QB Acquisition Options: Ranked
Thomas Shea
The Minnesota Vikings have made it clear that another quarterback is on the way this offseason; it's just a matter of when . This analysis, after careful deliberation, weighs the best three options.
Mac Jones , Malik Willis , and Kyler Murray headline Minnesota's realistic QB paths, ranked by price, upside, and fit.
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For starters, Vikings Territory does not endorse Minnesota signing a retread quarterback like Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr to perhaps squeeze a little bit of the golden years from their respective arms. The Vikings have tried that method for over 30 years, and it never amounts to a Super Bowl appearance.
The Vikings Will Add Another QB Soon
We're also intrigued by trades for "upside" guys like Anthony Richardson and Will Levis , but those two, in particular, have similar flaws to J.J. McCarthy : inconsistent or bad performance + rocky injury history.
Moreover, trading for Joe Burrow , Lamar Jackson , or Justin Herbert just isn't realistic. If any of those men are traded, that's probably a 2027 offseason talking point. So, weighing head coach Kevin O'Connell's presumptive mission statement to win now — meaning he may not have time or enough clout to see if McCarthy will sink or swim by himself — three clear options emerge if Minnesota wishes to have the best of both worlds: keeping McCarthy in-house while having another quarterback who could fill the long-term QB1 goal if needed.
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A final disclaimer: if the decision were up to us, we'd ride with McCarthy in 2026, adding a high-end backup like Marcus Mariota or Drew Lock (via trade), and if then if McCarthy flames out, draft a quarterback in the 2027 deep class. However, O'Connell likely doesn't have that runway at this fingertips. He may have to reach the postseason and win a playoff game to maintain his employment.
That said, there are the top three quarterbacks for the Vikings to target in the 2026 offseason, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best option).
3. Mac Jones Expensive Trade with SF
Let's get this out of the way: if Jones were a free agent, and O'Connell could sign him for $20 million to $25 million per year, he'd live at No. 1 on this list. Full stop. He's probably the next guy in line to continue the Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield reclamation epic tale.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) chats with Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) following the matchup at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, as both young passers regroup after a hard-fought AFC battle. The scene captures a brief postgame exchange between former draft classmates. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
But the San Francisco 49ers are playing hardball with his availability. They seem to be posturing for a 1st – or 2nd-Round pick via trade if a quarterback-needy team wants his services. Put plainly, the Vikings cannot afford that after four years' worth of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's dismal drafting habits . Minnesota must keep its high-round picks, hell or high water.
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If Jones were guaranteed to be the Vikings' long-term solution at quarterback, the price tag would be worthwhile. But he played like garbage as recently as 2024. His arm strength is also suspect — some even say unbecoming of his 1st-Round draft stock in 2021.
Regardless, Jones put together eight Darnoldian games in San Francisco when Brock Purdy got hurt last season. He would probably work just fine in O'Connell's system. It's just not worth a 1st-or 2nd-Rounder when the next two guys are semi-gettable.
2. Malik Willis Free Agency
Of 58 quarterbacks in 2025 with 55 dropbacks or more, Willis was the NFL's best quarterback per EPA+CPOE — and the race wasn't close. By leaps and bounds, he outclassed everyone. The problem? His 58 dropbacks are a small sample, and no one is too sure if his production is sustainable.
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Yet, in a league where Darnold and Mayfield scripted back-to-back redemption narratives, it's not outrageous to believe Willis will be next. He ranks No. 2 on this list because of his free agency — the Vikings or any team won't have to trade draft capital to get him.
There are also concerns about his ability to rear back and throw 400 times in a season. Can he do it? Maybe . As a rule of thumb, O'Connell needs a quarterback who can throw primarily and then take off with his legs secondarily. It's unclear whether Willis has the "passing volume" gene.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) lines up under center against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sep. 22, 2024, directing the offense before the snap in an interconference clash. The image highlights Willis preparing to execute the play. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
The alluring part? No matter where he lands, he's perhaps the only free-agent quarterback with untapped upside to become a team's QB1 for the foreseeable future. It's one thing to sign Jimmy Garoppolo , knowing his days are numbered, and his job is to fill in the gaps like Carson Wentz in Minnesota last year. In Willis, his next team can unlock their QB1 for the next 7-10 years.
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He deserves a contract between $20 million and $25 million per year. The Vikings must determine if his success in Green Bay can translate elsewhere, mainly in a pass-happy offense. If so, sign him up.
1. Kyler Murray
Free Agency or Modest Trade with ARI
It's incredibly surprising that Vikings fans are so sour on Murray because he "doesn't fit the system" in Minnesota. Murray had 4.38 speed not long ago, can throw the ball 65-70 yards, and his completion percentage through seven seasons is the fifth-best in NFL history. Like Willis, some don't think he fits the Vikings' offense like a glove.
Who cares?
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He has every physical tool — besides ideal quarterback height — to succeed. He's also not starting from rock bottom like Darnold or Mayfield a few years ago. In the last seven years, he has a better EPA+CPOE than Daniel Jones , Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence , Baker Mayfield , and C.J. Stroud . Perhaps fans are leaning too heavily into the narrative that Murray enjoys video games. Again — who cares?
On the "scheme fit," if O'Connell cannot embrace a quarterback with wide receiver speed, supreme arm strength, and precision accuracy, there is something wrong with O'Connell , not Murray. Should the Cardinals release Murray, O'Connell should sprint to his agent, sign Murray, and then change his offense. Why is O'Connell above tweaking his system? The Baltimore Ravens went from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson eight years ago, and Ravens fans didn't say, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. This new guy isn't like Flacco."
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Oct. 21, 2024, lifting his arms as teammates rally around him. The moment captures Murray's mobility in a pivotal scoring drive. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
You wouldn't ask Steph Curry to win a dunk contest. You wouldn't ask Kirk Cousins to run the Wildcat. Change the offense to fit Murray's strengths. It's not a supernatural idea.
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Obviously, the Cardinals releasing Murray would make life easier; they'd be on the hook for his fat contract. A trade is trickier because Minnesota would have to fire off a draft pick — probably a 4th- or 5th-Rounder, according to current reporting — and then rework Murray's contract. Regardless, it can be done.
Murray is a Darnold or Mayfield who needs polish, not wholesale rejuvenation.
Can you imagine if Arizona drops Murray, and the Vikings and/or fans arrive at a spot, thinking, "We can Murray for a million bucks or Tyrod Taylor for four million bucks. What should we do?" Feels like a Twilight Zone.
Landing Murray's is O'Connell's best shot at long-term job security if he knows McCarthy won't pan out as planned or if he does't trust McCarthy's durability.
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Murray — a 28-year-old — averages these numbers per 17 games:
—— 3,997 Passing Yards
—— 30 Total Touchdowns
—— 11 INTs
—— 67.1% Completion
—— 623 Rushing Yards
That isn't good enough for the Vikings? A team with 38-year-old Kirk Cousins and retired Derek Carr inside its rumor mill? What on earth?
