15 QB Options for Vikings if Something Happens to Sam Darnold

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Minnesota Vikings rookie passer J.J. McCarthy will miss all of the 2024 season after tearing his meniscus last weekend.

15 QB Options for Vikings if Something Happens to Sam Darnold

In his stead, and perhaps even decided before it, Sam Darnold will take over the QB1 title. However, as the Vikings witnessed firsthand injuries at quarterback last year — Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall were injured at times in 2023 — another quarterback could be on the way if something happened to Darnold.

These are the 15 quarterback options for the Vikings, ranked in ascending order of likelihood. This list can interpreted in terms of the next signing at the position or what happens in the event of a Sam Darnold injury. Minnesota added Matt Corral on Friday, though it’s unclear if he’ll make the active roster.

15. Jordan Ta’amu

QB Options
Ole Miss quarterback Jordan Ta’amu (10) passes during Vanderbilt’s game against Ole Miss, outside of Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. © Mike Clark/For The Tennessean.

How to Get Him? Free Agency.
Ties to Vikings:
He was part of the summer roster last year.

Minnesota saw something in Ta’amu last year, though his presence on the roster was short-lived. Like Corral, who signed on Friday, Ta’amu could be called on as a practice squad option.

14. Bryce Perkins

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Free Agency.
Ties to Vikings:
Perkins played for the Rams under Kevin O’Connell (OC) in 2022 and 2021.

Perkins would be another quarterback body for the practice squad if Corral doesn’t work out.

13. Carson Wentz

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

How to Get Him? Trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ties to Vikings:
Josh McCown overlapped in Philadephia.

The Chiefs are unlikely to cut ties with Wentz this soon, but if Minnesota found itself in dire straits because of quarterback injuries — like last year — general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensha could fire off a late-rounder to the Chiefs for Wentz.

12. Kevin Hogan

Vikings Host Veteran Passer for Tryout
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Free Agency.
Ties to Vikings:
Kevin O’Connell was Hogan’s quarterback coach briefly in 2018.

Hogan would be an option if Minnesota needed an emergency QB3 for a game or two.

11. Teddy Bridgewater

Different for 2
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Free Agency.
Ties to Vikings:
Lived on Vikings roster from 2014-2017.

Bridgewater is coaching high school football after retiring in January, but he’s only 31. He could be lured out of retirement by a team desperately needing a steady quarterback.

10. Tom Brady

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Free Agency.
Ties to Vikings:
Brady worked with Kevin O’Connell (2008) and Brian Flores (2004-2018) in New England.

Point of order: this is where the fun starts.

The Vikings could call Brady, who hasn’t been shy about a possible comeback in the last four months, if the purple team played well out of the gate in 2024 and Darnold succumbed to injury. The only problem? He’s 47.

9. Case Keenum

Day the Vikings Made
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Trade with the Houston Texans.
Ties to Vikings:
Quarterbacked the Vikings in 2017.

The Texans employ C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills ahead of Keenum on the depth chart, meaning Keenum could be gettable in a pinch for Minnesota. Fans would love it.

8. Mike White

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Trade with the Miami Dolphins.
Ties to Vikings:
None.

The Dolphins probably aren’t in a hurry to deal White, a sweet insurance policy to Tua Tagovailoa. But if they like Skylar Thompson, that’s a different story. White played great against the Vikings as a member of the New York Jets two years ago.

7. Zach Wilson

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

How to Get Him? Trade with the Denver Broncos.
Ties to Vikings:
None.

Wilson will likely end up as Denver’s QB3, and if the Vikings think they could “fix him,” he’d represent a high-upside Darnold insurance policy.

6. Ryan Tannehill (QB)

George Walker IV-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Free Agency.
Ties to Vikings:
None.

If Darnold got injured Tuesday, for example, this would be the name to circulate the internet as his replacement. In fact, Tannehill will be the go-to guy for any team that encounters a QB1 injury. He won’t be unemployed for all of 2024.

5. Clayton Tune

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Trade with the Arizona Cardinals.
Ties to Vikings:
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did business last year with the Cardinals for Joshua Dobbs.

Tune started one game last year and looked like a late-round rookie. However, his physical toolkit might mesh well with the Vikings’ offense, and Adofo-Mensah has a recent history of doing business for quarterbacks with the Cardinals involving late-round picks.

4. Malik Willis

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com

How to Get Him? Trade or Late-Summer Free Agency.
Ties to Vikings:
None.

Willis may not make the Titans’ regular season roster, perhaps staring down the barrel of impending free agency. If he hits the open market, Adofo-Mensah could make the call.

3. Bailey Zappe

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

How to Get Him? Trade or Late-Summer Free Agency.
Ties to Vikings:
None.

Zappe has somewhat of a cult following — it isn’t very big — and he’s totally buried on the Patriots’ depth chart behind Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, and Joe Milton III. He will be a free agent before too long.

2. Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Ties to Vikings:
Thompson-Robinson works for Adofo-Mensah’s former employer.

Thompson-Robinson didn’t thrive as a rookie but was a crush of many leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. The Viking just witnessed him firsthand at joint practices.

1. Trey Lance

Vikings Rumors
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports.

How to Get Him? Trade with the Dallas Cowboys.
Ties to Vikings:
Lance is from Minnesota.

Believe it or not, Lance is the Cowboys’ QB3 behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. He won’t see much playing time in Dallas, but if Minnesota needed a passer because of a litany of injuries, he’s arguably the most intriguing option.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.