The Minnesota Vikings have been in the quarterback market all offseason, raising questions about J.J. McCarthy‘s status for training camp and the start of the 2025 NFL season. After bowing out of the mix to land Aaron Rodgers, more clarity is being provided on the Vikings’ quarterback situation.
Minnesota first set its sights on re-signing Sam Darnold, who enjoyed a breakout season and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2024 as the fill-in starter for McCarthy. While the Vikings attempted to re-sign him, Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
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With Darnold off the board, Minnesota pivoted to Daniel Jones. He signed with the team midway through the 2024 NFL season after being released by the New York Giants. While the Vikings pushed hard to bring him back on a one-year deal, he ultimately took a better offer with the Indianapolis Colts.
Once Jones wasn’t an option, that’s when NFL rumors surfaced that Rodgers could wind up in Minnesota. The future Hall of Famer reportedly preferred the Vikings over his other suitors – Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants – but the team never made a contract offer.
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Dianna Russini of The Athletic shared on the latest Scoop City podcast that the Vikings’ decision not to sign Rodgers is a sign that the organization is “all in” on McCarthy and ready to move forward with him in 2025.
Not everyone is sold on Rodgers being a quality starter in 2025, with many around the league divided on his potential effectiveness as a 41-year-old starting quarterback. While he was the best option available in NFL free agency, Minnesota now seems ready to commit to McCarthy.
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That wasn’t always a foregone conclusion. The interest in Darnold, Jones and then Rodgers suggests Minnesota had some reservations about McCarthy coming off two knee surgeries. While he is expected to be fully recovered from training camp, the 2024 first-round pick also hasn’t started in over a year.
Rolling with McCarthy and ultimately not aggressively pursuing a viable quarterback to challenge him in training camp suggests the Vikings believe he’s ready to be the starter. While it’s a bit of a gamble for a franchise with Super Bowl aspirations and one of the best NFL rosters in 2025, Minnesota seems confident McCarthy is good enough to reward the risk.
