Vikings Could Have a Wild QB Option Next Offseason
The Minnesota Vikings, and head coach Kevin O’Connell specifically, have a renowned reputation for rehabbing quarterbacks and enabling them to reclaim their careers.
With a once-promising quarterback out for 2025, the Vikings could find themselves with a wild new option next offseason. This is why the idea isn’t so far-fetched.
Sam Darnold has a tale and is now a rich man accordingly.
Some have even suggested that O’Connell should start a “Quarterback University” reality TV show, where he serves as a Statue of Liberty for forgotten passers: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
So when Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis hit the shelf for all of 2025 this week, he quickly morphed into a reasonable opportunity for the 2026 Vikings.
Titans QBs Will Levis Hits the Shelf
He could be a QB2 option for Minnesota in 2026.
Will Levis Will Miss All of 2025
Levis won’t play into the Titans’ 2025 plans, not even as a backup quarterback.
NBC Sports‘ Michael David Smith wrote Monday, “Titans quarterback Will Levis will miss the entire 2025 season with a shoulder injury. Levis, who was the Titans’ primary starter the last two seasons, was expected to back up first overall pick Cam Ward this year. Instead, he’ll miss the year.”
“Levis dealt with a shoulder injury last season. It’s unclear what has happened this offseason to lead him to conclude he needs to get the shoulder surgically repaired now.”
An awful development for a once-promising and strong-armed passer. He’ll have to wait a year to resume his career.
The Man Probably Needs a Change of Scenery
When Levis recovers — sometime next offseason — he’ll feel like a man ripe for a change of scenery. A geographical cure.
By next offseason, with any luck for Tennessee, Cam Ward will have fully taken off and Levis will be a distant memory. Truth be told, Levis was morphing into an afterthought in 2025, playing second fiddle to Ward, whom the Titans selected with the first overall pick in April.
The highest peak Levis can achieve in Tennessee is a high-end backup — if one assumes that Ward will perform decently.
It’s time for Levis to audition elsewhere.
Vikings May Need a QB2 in 2026
Which brings the discussion to the Minnesota Vikings.
With Nick Mullens departed to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota may play musical chairs at QB2, evidenced this offseason with the additions of Sam Howell and rookie Max Brosmer, in addition to the club re-signing Brett Rypien.
Write this down: Levis would be absolutely perfect in the Twin Cities. O’Connell has a type, and Levis is it. The Vikings’ head coach prefers fearless quarterbacks who are unafraid to sling the rock downfield, even if it means creating a turnover here and there. See: Mullens and Howell.
Well, that is Levis, who just so happens to have a rifle of an arm. Levis to the Vikings may not formally materialize, but if one were to write a fiction book about O’Connell’s prototypical QB2, that would be Levis. To a tee.
Final Year of Sam Howell’s Rookie Deal
Meanwhile, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swung a trade for Howell during the 2025 NFL Draft. He came aboard for the equivalent of a late-round pick.
With J.J. McCarthy in the house as QB1, the goal is for Howell not to play at all. No matter what happens with Howell, seeing the field or not, his rookie contract will end after 2025. He’ll be a free agent.
At that time, Minnesota must decide to re-up with Howell or let him walk to the open market next March. Depending on how Howell performs behind the scenes or on the field if McCarthy misses time, the Vikings could realistically have a “Howell or Levis” decision if Tennessee parts ways with Levis.
The timing works for Vikings fans who might be pro-Levis.
ESPN on Levis
ESPN’s Turron Davenport added more context to Levis’ plight: “Levis, hoping that rest and rehab would allow the shoulder to recover, experienced discomfort during minicamp, a source told ESPN, and then started seeking additional medical opinions before deciding to have surgery.”
“Cameron Ward, the first overall pick in the 2025 draft, will take the first-team reps for the Titans in training camp and likely be backed up by Brandon Allen, a veteran free agent addition who spent three seasons with Titans coach Brian Callahan when the two were with the Cincinnati Bengals.”
Truth be told, Levis is teetering on the dreaded “bust” status, especially with the injury news.
Davenport continued, “After suffering the injury last season, Levis returned after the bye week to start against the Indianapolis Colts but was ineffective and missed the next three games. He finished the season with a disappointing 2-10 record as a starter, throwing for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.”
“Levis checked into OTAs ready to compete with Ward for the starting job and didn’t appear to have any issues with the shoulder during OTAs while taking alternate first-team reps with Ward.”
Circle Levis for 2026 free agency if the Titans cut ties or keep him in your memory bank as a low-risk trade option — just like Howell this offseason.
Levis turned 26 last month.
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