Where the Vikings Go at Quarterback after Firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Dustin Baker   |  

Jan 31, 2026

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In an NFL shocker, the Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah 26 days after the end of the regular season, awkward timing because Minnesota will now wait until after the 2026 NFL Draft to find a replacement. In the meantime, longtime Vikings “money guy” and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski will handle the job in an interim capacity.

With the front office in flux, the Vikings’ quarterback roadmap shifts around McCarthy while veteran and trade options stay in play.

So, what does this mean for the Vikings’ quarterback outlook, especially with J.J. McCarthy entering Year No. 3?

Minnesota’s QB Roadmap after the Front Office Shakeup

These are the options at quarterback for Minnesota — with no Adofo-Mensah around.

J.J. McCarthy and Another QB for a Summer Battle

With Adofo-Mensah out, there’s no way to know how high the Vikings are on McCarthy. Some semi-credible rumors claim McCarthy was “Adofo-Mensah’s handpicked guy,” whereas, rather conveniently after the fact, head coach Kevin O’Connell preferred the option that actually worked, like Sam Darnold and Drake Maye.

Therefore, the newly revised offseason could be as simple as signing another free-agent quarterback to compete against McCarthy this summer. A dude like Russell Wilson or Marcus Mariota rolls in and challenges McCarthy for the QB1 spot. He doesn’t even have to have a lofty reputation — if one is now operating under the pretense that O’Connell didn’t really want McCarthy in the first place:

J.J. McCarthy and a Clipboard-Holding Veteran QB

Then, there’s the “more of McCarthy method.” O’Connell and Brzesinski simply sign a passer who won’t really challenge McCarthy, instead paving the way for McCarthy to start in 2026, almost no matter what. This can also be classified as the “run it back method.”

Next to netting a big fish like Joe Burrow, for example, this might be the least likely option.

The Kyler Murray Trade

One year ago, maybe two, Murray was considered a Top 12 quarterback because of his immaculate skill set. He essentially has every physical tool — except height. He’s only 5’11.” Still, he can make every throw, run with the best of them, escape defenders, launch the rock 65 yards, and offer historically good accuracy. Murray is the fifth-most accurate passer in NFL history.

He also appears to have played his final down in Arizona. Murray inched closer to recovery from a foot injury in the middle of the season, but the Cardinals abruptly reversed course, inserted Jacoby Brissett, and placed Murray on injured reserve.

Now, he’s probably gettable in a trade for a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick. Murray isn’t the totally prototypical pocket passer that O’Connell loves, but who cares? Murray completes passes and has the skill to succeed as the Vikings’ QB1.

He’s probably the wisest option if Minnesota wants to contend for a Super Bowl in 2026.

Signing Malik Willis from Free Agency

Willis played wonderfully for the Green Bay Packers in 2024 and 2025, and now he’s set to hit free agency. If he doesn’t sign with the Miami Dolphins — the team that hired a Packers executive to be the general manager and the Packers defensive coordinator to be the head coach — Minnesota can likely sign him for $15-$20 million per season.

It is unknown if Willis can parley his small breakout in Green Bay into a consistent starting gig elsewhere — like Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield — but some team will pay to find out. Maybe that will be the Vikings.

Trading for an “Upside Guy”

Another intriguing possibility, O’Connell and Brzezinski could swing a trade for a high-round quarterback who hasn’t panned out to date but still has youth on his side. Or, for instance, a trade would not be needed if the Vikings signed Zach Wilson from free agency.

Minnesota scours the league for a young and misunderstood signal-caller, and that guy competes with McCarthy this summer.

Aaron Charles Rodgers

This one doesn’t really need an explanation. Rodgers tells the Steelers “no thanks” and signs with the Vikings — like the rumor mill suggested last year. The Brett Favre parallel comes full circle.

The Deep Sea Fishing Expedition

It would be really fun for this one to come to life, but it’s just not realistic for the Cincinnati Bengals to trade Joe Burrow, the Baltimore Ravens to trade Lamar Jackson, or the Los Angeles Chargers to trade Justin Herbert. You can dream about it, talk to your friends about it, and pull off the trade on Madden, but there’s no evidence to suggest those teams will trade their franchise quarterbacks. All carry humongous dead cap hits if traded.

But in the off chance that a general manager wakes up and wants to play the Nico Harrison role, Minnesota could trade the farm — three 1st-Rounders and more — for a superstar quarterback.

Examples:
Joe Burrow
Justin Herbert
Lamar Jackson
Baker Mayfield

It’s the Luka Doncic angle.

By Dustin Baker

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His debut thriller, The Motor Route , is out now. He ... More about Dustin Baker