The Vikings Verdict on Max Brosmer Is Finally In
J.J. McCarthy officially has quarterback teammates in the saddle.
The Vikings’ judgment on rookie quarterback Max Brosmer is finally in, revealing how the team views his role after the preseason for the 53-man roster.
One is Carson Wentz, whom Minnesota Vikings fans will know from North Dakota State University lore. Wentz also grew up as a Vikings fan.
The other is upstart undrafted free agent Max Brosmer, a rookie passer from the University of Minnesota.
The Golden Gopher made the final cut for the Vikings on Tuesday.
It’s a Glowing Green Light for Brosmer on Minnesota’s Roster
Brosmer survived pushes from veterans Sam Howell and Brett Rypien.
Max Brosmer Made It
The Vikings released their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, in accordance with the NFL’s 3:00 PM CST deadline. Most believed Brosmer would make the cut after an impressive training camp and preseason. They were not wrong.
Over the weekend, Minnesota shipped Sam Howell and a 6th-Round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 5th-Rounder and a 7th-Rounder. The club also signed Wentz soon after.
Those transactions paved the way for Brosmer, who was not disappointed during the 53-man reveal. Brosmer appears to be headed toward fate as a Viking for the long haul.
An Astounding UDFA Tale
All 32 NFL general managers passed on Brosmer during the draft. Multiple times.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein mentioned some of Brosmer’s weaknesses before the event, claiming he “has touch but lacks consistent accuracy on deep throws,” possesses a “low release point causing throws to sail or get batted at the line,” and “lacks arm talent and mobility to make plays off-schedule.”
Those are just some examples of perceived deficiencies from Brosmer, and to be frank, he didn’t set the world on fire inside the Gophers’ offense last year.
Still, Brosmer latched onto Minnesota’s roster, and within a few months, the man molded himself into a primary backup for the Minnesota Vikings. It’s quite incredible, especially for a team that employs the “quarterback whisperer” as a head coach, Kevin O’Connell.
Now the Question Becomes .. QB2 or QB3?
Peeking around the bend, as Minnesota has not released an organized regular season depth chart, folks will now wonder for a few days if Brosmer is the QB2 or QB3.
A third-string role probably makes the most sense, given Wentz’s ample experience. But the fact remains that Wentz just arrived in Minneapolis a few days ago. Brosmer knows the offense more intimately.
Tracking Brosmer’s formal job title will remain a top storyline until the release of the depth chart. He could be anointed QB2 or QB3, and no one would be too stunned either way.
Other Roster Shockers
Minnesota pulled off a few more roster stunners, too. For example, six of Brosmer’s UDFA pals from the 2025 class made the cut:
- Chaz Chambliss (OLB)
- Joe Huber (G)
- Austin Keys (LB)
- Myles Price (WR)
- Elijah Williams (DT)
- Ben Yurosek (TE)
Additionally, a 2024 UDFA, OLB Gabriel Murphy, who played well in the preseason, lost his job. Fullback C.J. Ham hit injured reserve and will miss the season’s first four games at minimum. And Minnesota kept just four cornerbacks on the roster; some teams have as many as seven.
Surprises, indeed.
More on Brosmer
Our own Janik Eckardt opined on Brosmer over at PurplePTSD.com on Tuesday: “In the preseason, Vikings fans finally got a look at their young signal-caller, whom they still remember from his year at the University of Minnesota, and he was fantastic in all three games, operating the offense at a high level with accuracy, poise, and decision-making.”
“Brosmer was responsible for both passing touchdowns in the Vikings’ preseason efforts. Neither of the other passers registered one. The young QB spent his first five college campaigns at New Hampshire (they only played one game in 2020, and he missed 2021 because of a torn ACL). In 36 games, he passed for 8,713 yards and 70 touchdowns. His final college season, famously, took place in Minnesota, where he tabulated 17 touchdowns and five interceptions while leading the Golden Gophers to an 8-5 record.”
It’s certainly rarefied air for Minnesota to have two promising rookie or rookie-like quarterbacks in its roster orbit.
“He showed that he could compete at a higher level, and he proved that another step is possible in the preseason. The Vikings now have three quarterbacks under contract. McCarthy is the unquestioned starter. A combination of Brosmer and free-agent addition Carson Wentz will back him up,” Eckardt continued.
“Wentz’s experience of 94 starts will likely give him the edge, but Brosmer can’t be completely ruled out from the QB2 race because of his excellent preseason play and familiarity with the offense. He had a four-month head start over Wentz. Either way, Brosmer will stick around and could be Minnesota’s long-term backup in the future.”
Brosmer is about two years older than McCarthy.
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