Will the Minnesota Vikings Shake Up Their Quarterback Room in the 2026 Offseason?
It is safe to say the 2025 season was a challenging year for the Minnesota Vikings. However, despite going through multiple quarterbacks and having poor performances, they were able to end the season with a winning record. While the 9-8 record is not awful, the team's future is shaky. They are in a terrible cap situation, as they are projected to be roughly $40 million over the salary cap. Additionally, with the firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the team lacks a clear plan for the future. One of the biggest reasons for this is the quarterback situation.
Former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy has had a shaky start to his career. This was his first season playing after missing his rookie season with a torn meniscus. Unfortunately, he only played in 10 games due to multiple injuries throughout the year. In those 10 games, the 23-year-old recorded 1,632 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns. He also threw 12 interceptions and only completed 57% of his passes. This lackluster performance has led to huge question marks around the quarterback position.
The issues with the quarterback room track back to last year. The team decided to let both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones walk away. The breakout Jones had this season with the Indianapolis Colts was hard to predict. However, Darnold led the Vikings to the playoffs, and while it ended poorly, he still had a strong season. With the Seattle Seahawks, he continued his success and won the Super Bowl, which has helped him enter elite status conversations. Seeing Darnold excel has played a huge role in fans losing patience with McCarthy. Minnesota is now expected to add another quarterback to the roster, and while it is unclear if it will be a competition or not, it shows the lack of confidence in their current options. Heading into free agency, there are a few names that have been linked to the Vikings.
The first, and most rumored option, is Kirk Cousins. The 37-year-old is expected to be released by the Atlanta Falcons. This past season, in 10 games, he threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Additionally, the advantage he has over the other options is his familiarity with the team. Before joining the Falcons, he spent six years in Minnesota. In those six years, he went 50-37-1 and made the Pro Bowl three times. Another positive is that the 14-year veteran has a strong relationship with star receiver Justin Jefferson. With the team chemistry and experience in the system, he could be a perfect option to mentor McCarthy, and even possibly start. He would not be a long-term solution, but would buy Minnesota some more time.
When looking for a long-term possibility, one name that comes up is Mac Jones. The former first-round pick never fully lived up to his expectations with the New England Patriots. This past offseason, he joined the San Francisco 49ers as a backup. When injuries occurred, Jones stepped in and went 5-3. More impressively, he completed 69% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
As Jones is still under contract, he has become one of the top potential trade targets. However, the price is not expected to be cheap. Across the league, the consensus seems to be that it would take at least a second-round pick. The cost may be worth it as Minnesota could try to unlock the 27-year-old to his true potential, as they did with Darnold. Trading for Jones would signal an open competition to start the season. There is less steam than there is for Cousins, but as of now, it sounds like all options are on the table.
One of the wild card options is Anthony Richardson. The 23-year-old has struggled with injuries and consistency during his first three seasons. With Indiana now focusing on Jones, Richardson has become a likely trade or cut option. Due to his health concerns and lack of production, he would be a fairly cheap target. On the other hand, it could be hard to justify the Vikings adding a second injury-prone project quarterback. Although this would allow Minnesota the chance to test both out and see who works best with the system.
In the end, the Vikings enter the offseason facing more questions than answers. From an unstable front office to an uncertain quarterback room, this franchise is clearly at a crossroads. Whether they reunite with Cousins, trade for Jones, take a chance on Richardson, or stick with McCarthy, the next move will shape the direction of the organization. With cap concerns and impatient fans looming, there is little room for another misstep. The decisions made in the coming months will ultimately determine whether Minnesota can quickly rebound or sink further into uncertainty.
