The Vikings May Have Found a Gem in This Rookie
The Minnesota Vikings have four quarterbacks in their roster, headlined by J.J. McCarthy, the club’s top hope for a Super Bowl sometime in the next few seasons.
Max Brosmer is quickly making a name for himself this summer for the Vikings. Don’t be surprised if he makes the roster and sticks around for a while.
Following McCarthy, the quarterback room features veteran Sam Howell and Brett Rypien, who will compete for the primary QB2 role at training camp and in the preseason.
But don’t forget about undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, a Golden Gopher who is turning heads this spring and summer. He could end up a UDFA gem and make the September roster.
Max Brosmer Making a Name For Himself
Brosmer has caught his coaches’ attention since turning purple at the end of April. Kevin O’Connell has praised the University of Minnesota alumnus a couple of times, and this week, The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis mentioned Brosmer in a piece about the Vikings’ offensive personnel.
“Intriguing is the best way to describe his spring. Multiple staffers raved about his ability to pick up small intricacies. His professional approach and ability to process should keep him in the league for a while,” Lewis opined.
Kudos from multiple staffers are never a bad thing.
For curious minds, Lewis noted on McCarthy, the golden boy: “The Vikings tossed him the keys to the Ferrari. The directive is simple: Take what’s there; no need to be a hero. Expecting McCarthy to be perfect would be foolish.”
“Thinking he’ll thrive on intermediate routes and anticipatory throws is fair. Most everyone who has spent meaningful time around him raves about him. How he looks will be one of the biggest stories of the NFL season.”
Max Brosmer Is Becoming a UDFA Darling for the Vikings
Don’t look now, but Brosmer could land a QB3 job in 2025 or 2026.
53-Man Roster Stakes
Brosmer earning a spot on the 53-man depth chart at the end of August is not an extreme longshot — not when the quarterback-whispering head coach has talked glowingly about the Gopher.
In all likelihood, Howell will grab the QB2 job — he has the most experience and damn near passed for 4,000 yards as a starter in 2023 with the Washington Commanders — leaving Rypien and Brosmer to duke it out for QB3.
Vikings fans know a little bit about Rypien, but he should not be classified as an insurmountable target on the depth chart for Brosmer. In short, he can get got.
Perhaps Another UDFA Masterclass
Assume that coaches and staffers’ commendation of Brosmer translates to training camp and preseason. Well, his would-be positioning on the 53-man roster would represent another UDFA success story courtesy of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
The young executive has rapidly become recognized around the business as a UDFA savant, consistently finding a way to secure top talent after the draft.
Ivan Pace Jr., a starter in the middle of the Vikings’ defense, can attest.
Plenty of Preseason Action
Thankfully, Brosmer should get plenty of run in three preseason games this August. O’Connell enjoys resting his starters in the exhibition contests, paving the way for unsung reserves and rookies like Brosmer to blossom.
It will remain a mystery about McCarthy’s playing time in the preseason games — he tore his meniscus during one last year — but no matter what, folks should see plenty of Brosmer, Howell, and Rypien.
More Brosmer Takes
PPTSD’s Kyle Joudry wrote about Brosmer in May, “The 2025 season involved the Minnesota passer putting together a strong 66.5% completion rate. His statistics also included 2,828 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Keep in mind, as well, that Brosmer brought the ball across the goal line 5 times with his legs. The Vikings could have reasonably landed a strong backup option for McCarthy in acquiring Brosmer.”
“Both have a brain in their head and have the capacity to be accurate. They possess a similar build, played in the same college conference, and even emphasize similar ideas when chatting with the media. Seeing the pair lock down the passer position for the next little while won’t be particularly surprising.“
And Pro Football Network‘s Reese Decker on Brosmer before the draft, “None of Brosmer’s weaknesses are major red flags. Like most quarterbacks, he struggles under pressure, particularly when it comes from the interior and disrupts his line of sight. However, what sets him apart is his ability to handle it without forcing bad decisions or costly turnovers. Instead of panicking, he finds ways to fight back to the line of scrimmage or simply throw the ball away.”
“While Brosmer may not boast elite athletic traits, he possesses the mental makeup and work ethic necessary to maximize his skill set. These qualities give him a chance to have an extended NFL career.”
Brosmer and the Vikings begin training camp in 23 days.
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