.At some point over the coming months, the Minnesota Vikings will add at least one more quarterback to their roster. Here are five options to join J.J. McCarthy in the Vikings QB room for the 2025 season.
5 Options to Join J.J. McCarthy in the Vikings QB Room
As the 2024 season ended, McCarthy was alone on the Vikings’ depth chart at quarterback. Minnesota has already moved to bring back Brett Rypien, who served as quarterback for the entire regular season. I see no reason Rypien shouldn’t take on that role again in 2025. That leaves one place for the Vikings to fill, and with McCarthy missing all of his rookie season, the Vikings will likely look at a top-level quarterback who can be the starter if needed, just like last season.
Sam Darnold
Bringing back Sam Darnold is not yet off the table as we await the landing spot for the Vikings’ 2024 QB1. Darnold was set to snag a big contract in 2025 until the last couple of games somewhat muddied the water. A multi-year contract worth $40+ million a year would be too steep for the Vikings to consider. However, if no one meets those numbers and Darnold can be brought back on a smaller deal, the Vikings might consider it with Kevin O’Connell, a keen admirer.
Speaking after receiving the Coach of the Year award, O’Connell left the door open for Darnold to return. “We will continue to have ongoing dialogue and discussions with him and his representation,” he said.
Justin Jefferson went as far as to predict Darnold would be back when asked this week. Money will be the issue, and I think Darnold will get a big enough offer somewhere else that Minnesota won’t be willing to match.
Daniel Jones
The Vikings brought in Daniel Jones after the New York Giants released him in November. Jones remained on the practice squad before being elevated to the roster for the wild-card round of the playoffs when he served as the emergency third quarterback. It felt like the two parties getting to know each other before both would have a decision to make for the 2025 season. Jones needs to find a new team, and the Vikings need to sign a quarterback to join McCarthy.
How well did it go in a couple of months Jones spent in Minnesota? We don’t know, but the two parties should have a fairly good idea of whether it’s a relationship they want to continue. If the Vikings can get Jones on a 1-year deal for something similar to what Darnold had last year, then that would be the ideal scenario. Jones has plenty of experience as a starter and even a playoff win (against the Vikings) to his name. With O’Connell’s reputation of getting the best out of his QBs, the Vikings could certainly win games with Jones if they needed to turn to him.
Nick Mullens
Nick Mullens has been the QB2 in all three seasons, and O’Connell has been the head coach in Minnesota. He would bring familiarity and knowledge of the system, but we also know the team’s limitations with him. Going with the soon-to-be 30-year-old QB again would be a cheap and easy option that would need the Vikings to have full confidence in McCarthy’s ability and health to make sense. There’s a good chance that Mullens will come back for training camp and the preseason, so the Vikings can make those decisions down the line.
Justin Fields
The next O’Connell reclamation project? How about Justin Fields? The Vikings were heavily linked with Fields in the build-up to the 2021 draft. Fields could finally land in Minnesota and go under the learning tree with O’Connell. After three seasons in Chicago, Fields was discarded by the Bears, who had the number one overall pick in 2024 — they selected QB Caleb Williams. Fields signed for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he helped them win four of their first six games with five passing touchdowns, just one interception, and five rushing touchdowns.
Fields was replaced by Russell Wilson when he returned from injury as the Steelers quarterback. He should garner plenty of interest in the free agency market. Fields has plenty of raw talent for O’Connell to work with, and his athleticism and threat in the run game would add an interesting dynamic to the Vikings quarterback room.
Zach Wilson
Another former New York Jet to fix? Zach Wilson went to Denver last season to work alongside rookie QB Bo Nix. It was a successful season for Nix and the Broncos, who went to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 – when they won Super Bowl 50. After McCarthy missed his rookie season, Wilson could come to Minnesota and do the same job, potentially having the opportunity to play if McCarthy struggles with performance or health.
