The Vikings Don’t Need Another QB to Develop
As soon as the news hit that the Indianapolis Colts were allowing Anthony Richardson to seek a trade. People are starting to put two and two together and coming up with six — Richardson to the Vikings.
One time after a game between the Vikings and Colts, Kevin O’Connell went over to Richardson and gave him some words of encouragement, as he does every time the Vikings come up against a young QB. O’Connell was mic’d up for that game, so the whole conversation was recorded clearly for the world to witness.
Vikings Should Stay Committed to McCarthy Timeline
Of course, Richardson now being available must mean O’Connell will want him. Mutual interest has been reported between the two parties, and the Vikings’ interest in Richardson during the 2023 draft process has been well documented. However, the timing just isn’t right for such a move.
After spending the 10th overall pick on JJ McCarthy in 2024, the Vikings’ young QB has had a difficult two years in the league, with inconsistent performance, QB mechanics issues, and alarming injury woes. So, bringing in Richardson, who has had a difficult three years in the league with inconsistent performance, QB mechanics issues, and alarming injury woes, doesn’t make sense. The Vikings already have one QB who needs a lot of development this year; they don’t need another.
Richardson’s Struggles are Almost A Mirror Image of McCarthy’s.
In 17 career games and 15 starts, Richardson has a woeful completion percentage of 50.6 with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The parallels with McCarthy are uncanny. The fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, Richardson is a bigger (6-foot-4, 244 pounds) and more athletic QB with a rocket arm. It’s those traits that saw his draft stock so high, but much like McCarthy, accuracy issues have been a big part of his undoing.
Also like McCarthy, Richardson has been in and out of the starting lineup but has led his team to a winning record when he starts. He has shown the ability to lead game-winning drives, which is why they will be interested in him. A team that has a good veteran QB as its starter would be a good landing spot for Richardson to spend some time concentrating on his development. That’s not Minnesota right now.
The Vikings QB Plan for 2026
The Vikings should be looking for a veteran QB who is an accurate passer to compete with McCarthy for the starting job. The only way bringing in Richardson makes sense is if the Vikings look to move on from McCarthy completely, which would be premature. To do it for Richardson, who will turn 24 in May, while McCarthy only recently turned 23, would be a strange move.
It might not be popular, but veterans like Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers, and Geno Smith as a solid one-year option or a proven starter that has found themselves out of favor like Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa make more sense. McCarthy gets more time to develop after he struggled with injuries and performance in 2025, and if the signs of development aren’t there, then a complete rethink is on order in 2027.
Whatever the Vikings choose to do this offseason, Richardson shouldn’t be part of it.
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