The Doomsday Plans for Vikings at Quarterback in 2026
J.J. McCarthy has seven games to show the Minnesota Vikings’ brass that he has the right stuff for the QB1 job in 2026 and beyond. The 22-year-old has struggled in 2025, outside of some unbelievably clutch moments, calling into question his long-term sticking power.
The Minnesota Vikings could face true doomsday plans at quarterback in 2026, with several worst-case scenarios creating major uncertainty for next season.
If he does not show growth the rest of the way, Minnesota would confront an uncomfortable reality in mere months, forcing the club to create optionality at the sport’s most important position.
There are the options.
What Would the Vikings Do if J.J. McCarthy Simply Doesn’t Improve?
Here’s how it would go down — 10 separate options.
1. Draft Another Quarterback
Whether general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would be trusted to draft another quarterback following the hypothetical miss on McCarthy is debatable and remains to be seen.
But Vikings’ history is peppered with swinging and missing on a quarterback draft pick, only to pave the way for the acquisition of a seasoned veteran like Randall Cunningham, Brett Favre, Case Keenum, or Kirk Cousins. While fun at times, those strategies have never fetched a Super Bowl.
Therefore, if McCarthy is simply no good down the stretch of 2025, the Vikings could, indeed, spend another 1st-, 2nd, or 3rd-Round pick on a quarterback.
The 2026 draftboard may look like this:
- Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
- Ty Simpson (Alabama)
- Dante Moore (Oregon)
- LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
- Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
- Jayden Maiava (USC)
- John Mateer (Oklahoma)
- Darian Mensah (Duke)
- Cade Klubnik (Clemson)
- Carson Beck (Miami)
- Drew Allar (Penn State)
2. The Kyler Murray Angle
Some will scoff at this one, and that’s fine. The Vikings may not have the budget for Murray, who earns $46 million per season.
Still, the Cardinals’ coaching staff has served up confusing messaging regarding Murray’s status in recent weeks, appearing to insist that he’s injured and hence on injured reserve, while not fighting back against “soft benching” allegations.
In seven seasons, Murray’s time in Arizona has not amounted to much, and with a high draft pick on the way, the Cardinals could lean into the rookie quarterback era, offloading Murray to the highest bidder.
If McCarthy is no good, why not Murray to Minnesota?
3. The Will Levis Angle
Levis and McCarthy could do the Spider-Man meme, two electric passers with charisma — and accuracy issues. The reason behind a possible Levis trade — that won’t cost much — is this: between Levis and McCarthy, couldn’t Kevin O’Connell sculpt one into QB1 readiness?
In all likelihood, Levis will be traded somewhere in the offseason, and traded for cheap. Probably a late-rounder.
Minnesota would then host a summer camp battle between McCarthy, Levis, and Max Brosmer. Whoever wins — wins.
4. The Mac Jones Angle
If he becomes available in a trade, an NFL team will give Jones a nod as “the next Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold.” You can book it.
The Vikings could poke around Jones’ availability and make him a high-profile insurance policy for McCarthy’s rollercoaster development. Jones might even earn the QB1 job outright if Adofo-Mensah snagged him.
But make no mistake: Jones has a great chance of being the next reclamation opportunity.
The only drawback? He’s under contract in 2026 with the 49ers, and general manager John Lynch could price-gouge via trade.
5. The Anthony Richardson Angle
Take the Levis argument above — copy and paste.
O’Connell went out of his way to encourage Richardson during a 2024 game, telling him to keep fighting amid his rocky quarterback journey.
How does McCarthy, Richardson, and Brosmer sound for 2026 Vikings training camp? Someone has to be good eventually from that bunch, right?
6. McCarthy, Max Brosmer, and a Seasoned Vet Angle
Then, there’s the route where McCarthy grows in the next seven games, but Minnesota absolutely still needs a calming veteran presence behind him next season.
For fans, this is probably the optimal outcome, as it will mean that McCarthy showed improvement in December and January.
The Vikings tout McCarthy as the QB1, and sign a player like this as insurance — kind of like Carson Wentz a few months ago:
- Carson Wentz
- Case Keenum
- Gardner Minshew
- Jake Browning
- Jimmy Garoppolo
- Joe Flacco
- Kenny Pickett
- Malik Willis
- Marcus Mariota
- Mitchell Trubisky
- Russell Wilson
- Teddy Bridgewater
- Tyrod Taylor
- Zach Wilson
All of those men are free agents in March.
7. The Aaron Rodgers Fail Safe
Aaron Rodgers hinted that 2025 is his final season, but quarterbacks with Packer blood always bloviate and change their minds when the offseason hits.
Here, Minnesota gets a do-over. Perhaps Rodgers’ time in Pittsburgh will go up in smoke this season, propelling the Steelers to explore a rookie passer rather than a man who will turn 43 during the 2026 campaign.
Along with McCarthy somewhere in the mix, the Vikings roll with Rodgers, as many purple fans recommended eight months ago.
8. The Kirk Cousins Reunion at QB2
Because of his ties to the organization from 2018 to 2023, Cousins gets his own special category. He could easily fit into No. 6 — an experienced veteran to hedge the bet against McCarthy and Brosmer.
Cousins’ teammate in Atlanta, Michael Penix Jr., was placed on injured reserve this week. His season is kaput. Cousins has seven games to show he’s still got some gasoline left in the tank. If he creates a memorable and productive run, some team will sign him in 2026 as a QB2.
It’s worth noting that Cousins will turn 38 next summer. He’s probably not a QB1 solution anymore.
9. The Extreme Loyalty Path
Or — Minnesota can basically do nothing. The coaching staff decides that no matter what McCarthy does in the season’s final seven games, he’s still the great QB1 hopeful.
Coupled with a splash of No. 6 on this list, the Vikings merely set sail on 2026 with McCarthy as the unabashed QB1 and sign an anonymous veteran quarterback to hang out in case of injury emergency.
This one really depends on McCarthy’s trajectory around early January 2026.
10. McCarthy Gets Hurt This Season; Max Brosmer Does the Brock Purdy Thing
McCarthy is already well-known for two injuries, a torn meniscus and a high ankle sprain. What if he gets hurt again? Brosmer would take the reins sometime soon, and there’s a minuscule chance that he fulfills folks’ Brock Purdy prophecy.
What does that mean? Well, he’d take over, lead the Vikings offense, and look fabulous. Minnesota would head to 2026 with an intense “McCarthy or Brosmer” debate.
It could happen.
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