Ian Rapoport Confirms Vikings QB Plan
Since it became evident that Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy could not stay healthy, and in addition to bottom-barrel performance in his first year as a starter, the writing has been on the wall that the purple team will add a veteran passer in the 2026 offseason. Thanks to NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport, the plan is now confirmed.
The idea is simple: possibly keep McCarthy in front, then add a stabilizing veteran to protect the season if injuries hit. Or have an honest-to-goodness summer battle.
Rapoport opined from the Super Bowl about the Vikings’ quarterback strategy, and indeed, change is coming.
Vikings QB Plan Takes Shape with McCarthy and a Veteran Addition
The Vikings won’t ignore QB2 this go-round.
Rapoport: Vikings Will Find Veteran QB
It’s not official, but it’s “official” per NFL Network.
Rapoport announced last week, “I would expect the Minnesota Vikings to bring in at least a veteran next year, not really just to compete with J.J. McCarthy, although that’s what it’s gonna be, but really just to bolster and strengthen that room. We don’t know right now who the starting QB for Minnesota is going to be.”
Even the Vikings’ leaders said after the 2025 regular season that an extra quarterback would enter the mix; it’s now just a matter of time.
Who Might That Be?
Of course, announcing that Minnesota will secure a veteran quarterback in 2026 doesn’t really narrow it down; it merely defines the strategy. A veteran is technically any player who isn’t a rookie.
Therefore, the ginormous list of Minnesota’s options looks like this:
- Aaron Rodgers
- Anthony Richardson (trade)
- Carson Wentz
- Case Keenum
- Daniel Jones
- Davis Mills (trade)
- Drew Lock (trade)
- Gardner Minshew
- Jake Browning
- Jalen Milroe (trade)
- Jameis Winston (trade)
- Jimmy Garoppolo
- Joe Flacco
- Kenny Pickett
- Kyler Murray (trade)
- Mac Jones (trade)
- Malik Willis
- Marcus Mariota
- Mitchell Trubisky
- Russell Wilson
- Spencer Rattler (trade)
- Teddy Bridgewater
- Tua Tagovailoa (trade)
- Tyrod Taylor
- Will Levis (trade)
- Zach Wilson
The Vikings could pursue a seasoned QB2 veteran from free agency, a young passer like Richardson via trade who hasn’t quite worked out, or a Kyler Murray type who’d probably win the QB1 job outright.
Some have insisted that a Joe Burrow-caliber quarterback might be available on the trade market, but those are probably best-laid plans.
Competition or Insurance?
The key question is the next guy’s role. Will the Vikings add a passer to clearly support McCarthy as a QB2 this summer and autumn? Men like Jimmy Garoppolo and Joe Flacco come to mind for the task. Or — will interim general manager Rob Brzezinski find a signal-caller to vie for the QB1 job, meaning Minnesota will have last year’s Indianapolis Colts setup, when that franchise hosted a summer joust between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.
The Vikings notably had no quarterback battle last summer, handing the job to McCarthy by default, and the season ended without a playoff trip.
All signs point to a training camp quarterback battle.
A GM-Less Squad
The plot thickened a week and a half ago, when the Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah three and a half weeks after the regular season ended. Poor drafts undid Adofo-Mensah’s job security, and it likely didn’t help his cause that the guy who quarterbacked Minnesota in 2024, Sam Darnold, won Super Bowl LX with his new team on Sunday night.
So, most expect Kevin O’Connell to personally decide the identity of the quarterback to be named later. O’Connell doesn’t have eternal job security, making it more likely that the team will pursue a passer like Kyler Murray or Malik Willis. The head coach turned de facto team CEO may not have the luxury of risking it all on McCarthy.
SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad noted Sunday on the impending quarterback choice, “That decision appears to be up to coach Kevin O’Connell, and could depend on how much pressure he is under from ownership. O’Connell received a contract extension last offseason that reportedly will run through the 2029 season and is worth in the neighborhood of $13 million annually.”
“Of course, owners Zygi and Mark Wilf gave general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah a contract extension last spring and then fired him just over a week ago. O’Connell almost certainly has received more say in personnel decisions than he previously had, but if the Wilfs have made it clear it’s playoffs or bust in 2026, then O’Connell is likely to mothball McCarthy.”
It’s worth noting that O’Connell was verifiably onto something by adding Darnold in the offseason of 2024. Proof? Darnold’s team won the Super Bowl.
Zulgad added, “If the Wilfs are willing to see McCarthy get another opportunity, that could alter the decision. Reports from the Super Bowl were that the 49ers don’t plan to trade Jones, and that Rodgers appears likely to return to Pittsburgh.”
“Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that if Willis were to leave Green Bay to sign with the Vikings as a free agent, he wouldn’t be the starter upon arrival. That means there are insiders being told McCarthy is still the starter.”
Free agency is one month away, and trades can be agreed upon at any time between now and then.
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