Tom Pelissero Reveals New Detail of Vikings QB Strategy
Within the next few weeks, the Minnesota Vikings probably add a new quarterback for 2026, and that man will probably compete with J.J. McCarthy this summer for the QB1 job. That much is clear through eight weeks of the offseason. And thanks to NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero, folks learned a new clue on Wednesday: the Vikings will likely target a passer who was cut by his former team and will be “free” in 2026.
Minnesota can’t sit out the carousel, and Pelissero’s note hints at a veteran addition even with McCarthy in-house.
Thankfully, that criterion is pretty succinct; it’s quite obvious who Pelissero is hinting at.
The Vikings May Have Specific QB Criteria
The value-based quarterback will evidently turn the Vikings’ heads.
Pelissero on Vikings’ QB Plan:
Here’s what Pelissero said at the NFL Combine about the Vikings’ quarterback intentions:
One of those QB’s that’s got guaranteed money, that the Vikings can pay the minimum, if and when he’s released, and they would probably have dibs on those guys because everyone wants to play quarterback in Minnesota.
That might sound like a broad statement, but it is not.
So … the Options —
No. 1 = Kyler Murray
While most NFL teams have their quarterback situation settled, the Vikings and Jets are among the few still searching for answers.
Should Murray become available, expect considerable interest from teams like the Dolphins, Browns, and Colts — potentially good, under-the-radar landing spots if the price is right.
The Falcons are also worth watching. With Kirk Cousins departing and Michael Penix Jr. recovering from another ACL tear, their quarterback situation appears vulnerable.
However, the Steelers represent the biggest wild card. Given the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh might pursue Murray rather than wait. A mobile, experienced 28-year-old quarterback could be a more appealing option than another season of uncertainty.
These are Murray’s career numbers per 17 starts — basically a healthy season’s worth of production:
- 3,997 Passing Yards
- 30 Total Touchdowns
- 11 INTs
- 67.1% Completion
- 623 Rushing Yards
Murray also cheered for the Vikings as a kid and hasn’t been afraid to advertise that factoid a few times over the last several years.
Some recent reporting has suggested the Cardinals will release Murray. If so, he fits the Pelissero comments to a tee.
No.2: Kirk Cousins
Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed at the NFL Combine that Cousins will be released in March.
His statistics are central to the discussion. In 2023, his last full season in Minnesota, he ranked fifth-best in the league in EPA+CPOE. However, by 2025, he had fallen to 30th out of 35 qualifying players. An Achilles tear and the accumulated wear and tear of three seasons separate the potential 2026 version of Cousins from the player who previously led Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Once the undisputed QB1 in Minnesota, Cousins’ return would present a different dynamic. O’Connell would face three realistic options: immediately reinstate Cousins as the starter, conduct a legitimate training camp competition with McCarthy, or assign Cousins to a backup role, similar to the situation in Atlanta in 2025.
While his past performance remains relevant, expectations must be tempered due to his durability and age. Minnesota would be acquiring a quarterback in the twilight of his career, not the player who was once its centerpiece.
The man will know the Vikings’ offense, however. Intimately.
No.3: Geno Smith
Smith’s resume highlights his reliability and extensive starting experience. Since entering the league in 2013, he has started 98 games, with his teams compiling a 42–56 record. He averages approximately 203 passing yards per game, boasts a favorable 124-89 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and has contributed 12 rushing touchdowns.
Seattle named Smith their starting quarterback at the beginning of the 2022 season, a role he previously held for three years before moving to Las Vegas. In that season, he immediately excelled, passing for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns while stabilizing the Seahawks’ offense. But that, of course, was four years ago.
Some reports have claimed that Las Vegas will drop Smith and roll with Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell in 2026. The Raiders own the first overall pick in April’s draft, and Mendoza might be the only no-brainer on the current draftboard.
No.4: Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa might be a sensible option for the Vikings in 2026 — except for one red flag. He worked with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores for two years at the start of his career, when Flores was head coach of the Dolphins. The two didn’t get along, so much so that Tagovailoa called Flores a “terrible person” on a 2024 podcast.
There’s a world where the two break bread if he becomes available in free agency, but it’s the least likely on the list to come to fruition.
Tagovailoa, though, did throw for over 4,600 passing yards in 2023. That production does not grow on trees.
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