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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

What realistic options do Vikings have at QB for 2026?

By Daniel Morrison | Last updated Feb 25, 2026 12:48 PM ET

It hasn't exactly been an ideal start for J.J. McCarthy in the NFL. Through two seasons, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback has struggled to stay on the field amid injuries, and when he is on the field, he's battled inconsistency.

Now, it doesn't exactly sound like he has a vote of confidence from the front office and coaching staff in Minnesota. In fact, they're exploring all options at quarterback.

"What we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective," Vikings executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski said, via ESPN. "A lot of this has been J.J. in unfortunate [situations] with some of the injuries and things that he's dealt with, but we're going to explore every opportunity, and I don't think there's anything specifically we're looking for. We can't manufacture anything that's not there. So No. 1, what are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? All those things. There's just a lot of factors that go into it."

What's gone wrong for J.J. McCarthy?

Injuries have derailed the short career that McCarthy has had in the NFL. After being drafted 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, he was lost for his rookie season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee. Then, in 2025, as he went to take over as the team's starter, he continued to battle through injuries. That included a high ankle sprain, a concussion and a hairline fracture in his throwing hand.

McCarthy would finish the season playing in only 10 games. During that time, he was inconsistent. He'd complete just 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Even moments of success, like being named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, were overshadowed by the end of the season.

As a result, it was a down year for the team on the whole. Its 9-8 record wasn't good enough to make the playoffs, a frustrating season after the Vikings went 14-3 in 2024.

What realistic quarterback options are there for Vikings?

There are three basic ways to add for Minnesota: draft, sign or trade. None of those are as easy as they sound when it comes to quarterbacks.

This season is not considered a strong year for the quarterback position in the NFL Draft. Fernando Mendoza is assumed to be going first overall. After that, it's a mess.

In a recent mock draft from CBS Sports, Minnesota is set to take a defensive back at 18th overall. However, there should be plenty of quarterback options available if the Vikings fall in love with a prospect in the predraft process. That will include the likes of Ty Simpson and Drew Allar, who appear ranked second and third, respectively, on Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest Big Board. Both are flawed, though, or they'd be projected much higher.

Then, in free agency, only so many top-tier quarterbacks are ever available. Teams tend to hang onto them. The same is true for trades. That puts prices at an almost unrealistic premium.

Available free agents include Daniel Jones, off a major injury, Malik Willis and Joe Flacco, among others. One of those others to keep an eye on, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, is Aaron Rodgers. However, it's been an odyssey in recent offseasons to get to his eventual landing spot.

So, Minnesota can keep its options open at quarterback. However, for at least this year, keeping and developing McCarthy seems prudent.

Daniel Morrison

Dan Morrison is a writer originally from Massachusetts, now residing in Florida. He spent four years at On3, working on the National News Desk there. Prior to that, he’s also contributed at Underdog Dynasty.

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