There's An Early Favorite To Replace Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Feb 7, 2026 10:43 AM ET

It's starting to sound like J.J. McCarthy won't be unquestioned starter for the Minnesota Vikings next season.

McCarthy, a former top-10 pick from Michigan, struggled at times during the 2025 regular season. Despite having superstar wideout Justin Jefferson at his disposal, he only completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Not only was he inconsistent, he dealt with multiple injuries.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert suggested this week that Minnesota will "take a big swing" this offseason in hopes of landing a veteran quarterback.

“In the big picture, McCarthy is a talented player who just turned 23 and has a total of 10 NFL starts. Few NFL teams would give up on a quarterback with that profile, and many team builders are particularly enamored with optimizing a quarterback’s rookie contract. Adofo-Mensah was one of them, but his departure is a reminder of the range of outcomes that approach can lead to,” Seifert said. “If anything, these events increase the chances that the Vikings will take a big swing at finding a veteran quarterback who could start in 2026. The only thing more damaging than making the mistakes the Vikings made last season would be to repeat them this year.”

Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images

Who could that quarterback be for the Vikings? Dianna Russini of The Athletic mentioned Kirk Cousins as a potential option.

"The Vikings will be bringing in a veteran QB to compete with J.J. McCarthy in 2026," Russini said. "One league source I spoke with pondered the possibility of a Kirk Cousins reunion in Minnesota."

Perfect fit for Kirk Cousins?

Even at this stage in his career, Cousins has enough gas left in the tank. He went 5-3 as the starter for the Atlanta Falcons this season, completing 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Falcons are expected to release Cousins this offseason. That's because he’s due $67.9 million for the 2027 season that vests by March 13.

As for the fit, Cousins has experience playing in Minnesota's offense. In 25 games with Kevin O'Connell as his head coach, he had 47 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

If the Vikings can get Cousins without giving up any draft picks, that's a no-brainer.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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