Vikings QB Plans for 2025 Take Shape
The Minnesota Vikings have several options at quarterback in 2025.
Vikings QB Plans for 2025 Take Shape
The franchise can re-sign Sam Darnold for megabucks and let rookie passer J.J. McCarthy watch and learn indefinitely. It can re-up with Darnold in the short term to ensure McCarthy’s injury recovery goes swimmingly. The Vikings could also apply the franchise tag and trade Darnold. Or they can let Darnold vamoose to open free agency.
And according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, the quarterback plan might be a bit clearer this week, and it involves Daniel Jones, who Minnesota signed when the New York Giants released him about two months ago.
“The Vikings want Daniel Jones back. If there’s some sort of setback with J.J. McCarthy, maybe Daniel Jones plays a little bit in September. But that’s something to weigh. But I do know the Vikings absolutely want Daniel Jones back,” Wolfson said on SKOR North airwaves Tuesday.
If that reporting holds up — it probably will as Wolfson is one of the most credible in the business — Darnold would likely be the odd man out via trade or free agency. It’s unlikely for Minnesota to re-sign Jones and Darnold, with McCarthy itching to start.
A 2025 Vikings quarterback room could look like this:
- QB1: J.J. McCarthy
- QB2: Daniel Jones
- QB3: Brett Rypien
The Vikings have also featured Nick Mullens on their quarterback depth chart in the last three seasons, but if Jones stays in Minnesota, Mullens can probably earn a QB2 job elsewhere. He deserves it, at least.
Minnesota signed Jones in November after the Giants parted ways with the veteran passer. Many have speculated that Jones could fill the “Sam Darnold role” next season — and that is, indeed, on the table.
Adofo-Mensah said about Jones at his team’s year-end press conference last week: “He’s a potential option for us going forward. Most important position in the sport. We’re excited to have potential options that we think can come here and give us a certain required level of play that can help us compete and win games.”
Asked about Darnold, Adofo-Mensah replied, “You’re talking about the most important position in our sport. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to assemble a lot of talented players in that room. We got to see Sam play some incredible football for us. Won a lot of big games, we’re talking about games where he won them for us. Everything we do is about what’s the team around him going to look like? I’m excited to have those conversations. I think we’ve got a lot of good options.”
Because the Vikings spent 1st-Round draft capital on McCarthy last April, he’s favored to start in September of 2025. The 22-year-old tore his meniscus during his first preseason game, canceling his rookie season. But all signs point to an on-track recovery.
If Wolfson is accurate and Jones is in line to return, Minnesota will likely keep him as McCarthy insurance while Darnold departs for a new team.
The writing is on the wall.
NFL free agency is less than seven weeks away.
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 MIN 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.
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