There’s a Ryan Tannehill Update for Vikings
Late last week, Ryan Tannehill rumors sprouted in the Minnesota Vikings rumor garden, as the team arguably needs a backup quarterback behind J.J. McCarthy.
There’s a Ryan Tannehill Update for Vikings
McCarthy is 22, has never started an NFL game, and recently recovered from a torn meniscus.
And thanks to NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport, there’s a Tannehill update for the Vikings’ purposes a few days after the FOX Sports reporting.
Ian Rapoport on Ryan Tannehill + Vikings
Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show Monday, “Pelissero’s right, that it is J.J. McCarthy’s team going forward. He’s going to be the guy in OTAs. He’s going to get the reps.”
“The Tannehill conversations — if there was any conversation, it was more like, ‘Alright, might you theoretically be available if we need you?’ Because Ryan Tannehill sat all last year. I think he would probably come back for an opportunity to start for an awesome team and maybe make some decent bridge quarterback money … maybe 10 or 15 (million), something like that.”
Vikings fans have spent the last two weeks wondering about the identity of the eventual QB2 behind McCarthy, as Brett Rypien is the only alternative as of March 25th.
“I don’t get the sense that anything’s imminent, and I think the Vikings hope that they don’t need him. Because the hope is, your future is now, roll with J.J. McCarthy, who’s really talented, and just move forward from there,” Rapoport added.
The Previous Tannehill Reporting
FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweeted Friday, “Sources: The Vikings have had discussions with former Titans QB Ryan Tannehill about a potential deal. Talks are ongoing and nothing is imminent as of right now, sources tell NFL of FOX.”
CBS Sports’ Shanna McCarriston added about Tannehill’s situation: “The 36-year-old was adamant that it would take the exact right scenario for him to join a team, saying ‘nothing really felt right’ during free agency last offseason.”
“As a result, Tannehill didn’t take any snaps during the 2024 season, last playing in January of 2024. The former No. 8 overall pick played in 10 games in the 2023 season, starting eight with a 3-5 record.”
Tannehill has started 151 games since 2012, and his teams have tabulated an 81-70 (.529) record along the way. He’s totaled 216 passing touchdowns, 115 picks, and 34,881 passing yards in 11 seasons. Tannehill averages about 225 passing yards per contest, a respectable mark for a signal-caller never necessarily considered elite.
He placed 23rd of 41 qualifying quarterbacks (minimum 200 snaps) in 2023 per EPA+CPOE, his last time starting. The year before, 2022, he placed 18th of 37 per the same metric — always pretty damn decent, never completely rousing.
Brett Rypien as Main Backup?
The way it’s trending — especially if Tannehill doesn’t sign — suggests Minnesota is comfortable with Rypien as the alternative.
The nephew of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, Brett has appeared in 10 NFL games, starting 4 and tallying 950 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes, and 9 interceptions since 2019. He’s known for footwork and accuracy, while his arm strength and mobility have been considered weaknesses dating back to the 2019 NFL Draft’s lead-up.
Folks should prepare for Rypien as the standalone QB2 — just in case. No relevant and ulterior backup quarterback signing is a hint that he could be “the guy.”
The Non-Tannehill Options at QB2
After Tannehill, these possible QB2 options are on the table.
- Joe Flacco
- Case Keenum
- Trey Lance
- Drew Lock
- Mike White
Players like Aidan O’Connell (Las Vegas Raiders) or Sam Howell (Seattle Seahawks) could also be targets via trade.
The backup quarterback is a popular talker among Vikings fans because the team has featured one — many, actually — in back-to-back seasons after injuries affected Kirk Cousins in 2023 and McCarthy in 2024.
The takeaway? Tannehill to Minnesota isn’t imminent, and the Vikings are comfortable throwing caution to the wind with McCarthy.
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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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