Heat Turns Up for Vikings in Derek Carr Rumor Mill
A few days ago, when Derek Carr teased unretirement, some fans backhandedly said, “Maybe he’ll end up with the Vikings.” Now, thanks to NFL.com, there’s an actual Carr rumor train for the purple team. Nick Shook published an article Wednesday of Carr’s would-be landing spots, and wouldn’t you know it? The Vikings earned a mention.
The Vikings are getting linked to Carr, though any real traction depends on cost and the J.J. McCarthy plan.
Carr-to-Minnesota is probably a long shot, generally speaking, but until the Vikings officially trade for or sign their J.J. McCarthy alternative, Carr’s name will live in the conversation.
Derek Carr Fodder Swirls around Minnesota
No, Carr may not be done just yet.
NFL.com: Vikings Make Carr Shortlist
So, the Carr rumor mill is here. Shook wrote, “If Carr is interested in manning a backup role that could include a camp competition for the starting job, he’ll find that in Minnesota. J.J. McCarthy didn’t cement his role as the Vikings’ franchise quarterback in his first season as their starter and has plenty of work ahead of him this offseason.”
“Minnesota might not exercise as much patience in 2026, either, not after they watched their playoff hopes evaporate this past season because of unreliability under center.”
If you’re not familiar with Carr’s career, he’s basically another Kirk Cousins — not great, not bad, just pretty good.
Shook continued, “Carr would address Minnesota’s need for a proven veteran capable of handling the job — an area which former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah admitted he’d misjudged prior to being fired in January — and could also push McCarthy in camp. Carr might also be enticed by the presence of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.”
“Ultimately, this fit might depend on whether Carr is interested in competing for a job, or if he’d rather walk into a situation that has him penciled in as QB1. Money matters, too, and the Vikings have a salary cap hole to dig out of before they can start thinking about Carr.”
The other squads on Shook’s list? The Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins.
Carr’s Stats Since 2014
Carr didn’t play in 2025 — he retired — but his usual resume as a starter looks like this when spread to a 17-game season:
— 4,148 Passing Yards
— 26 Passing TDs
— 11 INTs
— 65.1% Completion
The guy isn’t afraid to fling it and has started nearly 170 games in his career. His teams own a 77-92 (.455) record in those contests, mostly dragged down by Carr playing for the Raiders, a franchise known for losing and general dysfunction over the last couple of decades.
Carr would, however, provide Cousins-like efficiency. Here’s his EPA+CPOE ranking resume from the last decade:
— 2016: 16th
— 2017: 19th
— 2018: 18th
— 2019: 7th
— 2020: 10th
— 2021: 15th
— 2022: 21st
— 2023: 15th
— 2024: 13th
Onboarding Carr would basically boil down to whether the Vikings want an old quarterback as the solution or prefer youth that McCarthy or another player might provide.
The Trade Hassle
Of course, getting Carr wouldn’t be as simple as signing him to a modest contract. Like Sean Payton a few years ago, the Saints hold Carr’s contractual rights, meaning they can control his future and demand a draft pick in a trade. Next offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers can do the same with coach Mike Tomlin if they’re in the mood.
Carr won’t break the bank via trade, but there’s a small chance that New Orleans holds him hostage, demanding a late-round pick for his services. That complicates his unretirement just a bit.
A Solution Congruent with Vikings History — for Better or Worse
While fans will debate whether Carr moves the needle as a QB1 or QB2 solution in 2026, one observation is obvious: adding him to the depth chart as a starter would be The Viking way.
In the last 35 years, the Vikings have sought these veteran quarterbacks as solutions after failing to draft one on their own who lasted for longer than a season or a few:
- Sam Bradford
- Matt Cassel
- Kirk Cousins
- Randall Cunningham
- Sam Darnold
- Jeff George
- Brett Favre
- Case Keenum
- Jim McMahon
- Donovan McNabb
- Warren Moon
It’s not normal to find that many retreads for QB1 duty. Most teams haven’t relied on that many, instead relying on the draft to foster and cultivate quarterbacks. The Viking Way is just a little bit different.
The move would also keep the Vikings right in the “middle” of the NFL — giving the perception that the club is afraid to roll the dice on McCarthy’s development. preferring the safe harbor of Carr’s age-35 ceiling that likely won’t result in a Super Bowl.
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