ESPN Confirms Vikings’ 2026 QB Plan
Last offseason, the Minnesota Vikings let Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones leave the team via free agency, preferring a path that allowed J.J. McCarthy to emerge as the uncontested QB1. This time, Minnesota has stated that a deeper quarterback room will be the priority, with ESPN confirming the strategy last week.
No more Sam Howell-style stopgap; the Vikings want competition without blocking McCarthy’s development.
No, the Vikings won’t bank on a “Sam Howell-only” approach next to McCarthy in 2026. A better passer will be on the way to compete with McCarthy this summer for the starting job.
Vikings’ 2026 QB Blueprint Nailed Down by ESPN
If you like quarterback battles, one is probably coming to Eagan in July and August.
ESPN on Vikings QB Strategy
Competition — it’s on the way to the 2026 Vikings at quarterback.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert explained, “The Vikings appear set this offseason to run back a similar process in building their quarterback room — but with a determination to cultivate better results. In public statements this week, Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell stressed the depth they want to create around J.J. McCarthy.”
“Neither committed to McCarthy as their 2026 starter, but they also have not written him off after his injury-filled, roller-coaster 10-game NFL debut. In other words, the Vikings have positioned themselves roughly where they were at this time in 2025: hoping to pair McCarthy with a starting-caliber quarterback as both competition and a safeguard against injuries and/or slower-than-expected development.”
During McCarthy’s 10 starts this season, he turned the corner in games No. 7, 8, 9, and 10, looking like a competent quarterback and putting the sins of his first six starts in the rearview. At that point, fans wondered about the offseason strategy at quarterback: Had McCarthy done enough to retain his QB1 job outright?
That answer seems to be no.
Learning the Lesson the Hard Way
Why is a deep quarterback room a chief priority for the Vikings in 2026? Easy — they’re forced to learn from their mistakes.
Last March, Minnesota watched as all the reputable backup quarterbacks flew off the board in free agency, basically kicking back and doing nothing. At the time, the club had McCarthy and Brett Rypien under contract.
As it turned out, the master plan involved trading for Sam Howell during the 2025 NFL Draft, an inexpensive move that looked good on paper and put the clamps on fans’ fear that the Vikings had “forgotten” about a QB2.
Fast forward to training camp and the preseason, and Howell looked unplayable, prompting a trade to the Philadelphia Eagles and a late-summer free-agent signing of Carson Wentz, who held the QB2 job until he tore his labrum and hit season-ending injured reserve in October.
McCarthy continued to battle multiple injuries, and Minnesota used undrafted rookie passer Max Brosmer, who performed terribly — like an undrafted rookie quarterback. This go-round, the Vikings have apparently learned that backup quarterbacks matter when the primary guy, McCarthy, is injury-prone.
Minnesota also chose not to hand fat contracts to the aforementioned Darnold or Jones, two decisions that have been scrutinized beyond belief in the last five months.
The Free Agent Contenders
What does a free-agent quarterback to compete with McCarthy this year look like? Well, the list is enormous, but it’s a bit underwhelming, aside from Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis.
These players are in line to test free agency in seven weeks:
- Aaron Rodgers
- 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
If Rodgers becomes the target, that process may draw out for months, as Rodgers loves the spotlight of a prolonged flirtation.
The Trade Options
If free agency is not the preferred route for McCarthy’s incoming competition, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could consult the trade process, which he loves.
These men feel like appropriate targets:
- Kirk Cousins
- Justin Fields
- Mac Jones
- Will Levis
- Drew Lock
- Jalen Milroe
- Davis Mills
- Kyler Murray
- Spencer Rattler
- Anthony Richardson
- Tua Tagovailoa
- Jameis Winston
Jones and Murray make the most sense for the Vikings, two guys who could fill the QB1 role for years to come if McCarthy flames out. One must wonder, though, if the San Francisco 49ers are in a hurry to trade Jones. Their quarterback, Brock Purdy, has injury concerns of his own. And Murray’s cap number in 2026 is over $50 million — a tough sell for a Vikings team that begins the offseason over budget by about $35 million.
It’s also worth mentioning that Cousins could be released before too long. Some fans will have a hard time stomaching his return, as he was never universally accepted by the fan base in the first place.
But according to ESPN, at least one notable quarterback will join the mix in Minnesota this offseason. That’s no longer a mystery.
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