Andrew Buller-Russ
NFL free agency kicked off on Monday, and teams have been busy filling needs. As expected, the Minnesota Vikings have been fairly quiet due to their cap constraints. Minnesota has only added cornerback James Pierre thus far, but they’ve also retained linebacker Eric Wilson and All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola. They’ve also seen Jalen Nailor and Ryan Wright land lucrative deals elsewhere.
While the margin transactions are important, all Vikings fans really care about right now is the quarterback situation. Who’s going to be pushing J.J. McCarthy for the starting role? Below, we rank the 10 best QB options available to the Vikings this offseason, in order of worst to first.
Related: NFL Free Agency Day 1: Biggest Winners & Losers
Jimmy Garoppolo
Years ago, there were rumors that the Vikings could end up with Jimmy G via trade. Now they can sign him as a free agent. Yet, the two-time Super Bowl champion (as a backup) is now 34 years old. He hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2022 and has thrown just 41 passes in the past two seasons. There are better options out there, but he’d have a great understanding of coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense after spending the past two seasons with Sean McVay and the Rams.
Anthony Richardson
The former No. 4 overall pick has received permission to seek a trade to a new team. He’d be a great project QB for anyone who still believes the 23-year-old can develop into a superstar. But, don’t the Vikings already have a young project QB who requires a lot of patience and refinement? We’re extremely intrigued by Richardson’s skill set, and so is coach O’Connell, but developing two former first-round picks at the same time isn’t ideal.
Joe Flacco
If the Vikings are still counting on McCarthy being their QB of the future, then Flacco is among the best options available. If the Vikings still expect McCarthy to be QB1 for the bulk of 2026, then signing an experienced veteran whose best contributions come off the field and in the locker room is ideal. Yet, if the Vikings think this QB will be on the field for a good chunk of the season, then they can do better than this 41-year-old statue with a big arm.
Russell Wilson
Many have forgotten about Wilson this time around, but the 10-time Pro Bowler still showed some positive flashes with the Giants last season. Now 37, Wilson’s mobility has drastically declined, but the former Super Bowl winner showcased his arm talent with a masterful 450-yard, 3 TD game against the Cowboys in 2025. Under the right circumstances, Wilson might still be able to play at a high level, but for how long? Plus, he likely wouldn’t cost much after starting just three games last season.
Derek Carr
We haven’t heard a peep about Carr coming out of retirement since free agency started. But we’d imagine his market will start coming into focus as more teams’ quarterback picture becomes clear. Teams that miss out on their targets will circle back to this four-time Pro Bowl QB. But how fresh is he after taking a full year off while dealing with shoulder problems? Still just 34, he should have plenty of life left on his fastball, and for the right price, the Vikings might want to check in on how much a trade would cost with the Saints. Perhaps they can toss Alvin Kamara into the deal too.
Related: Minnesota Vikings Doing ‘Background Work’ on Retired QB
Mac Jones
Another trade candidate here, Jones’ name came up a lot after what may have been his best season yet, helping keep the 49ers in playoff contention while leading them to a 5-3 record. Still just 27, teams may view Jones as someone who could become their next franchise quarterback as long as he can maintain his recent play. Plus, the former first-round pick should have an easier transition to coach O’Connell’s system after spending a season learning from Kyle Shanahan, just like Sam Darnold once did. Yet, is he really worth trading a Day 2 pick for? Only if the Vikings are supremely confident that he can be their QB of the future.
Kirk Cousins
He already knows the offense like the back of his hand. Plus, the four-time Pro Bowler would come at a bargain rate this time. Cousins is also beloved in the locker room and, depending on who you ask, a fan favorite. We already know he and his family would welcome a return to Minnesota. Yet, Cousins wants to play. Does he feel like the Vikings present that opportunity, or do they just essentially want him to help train McCarthy? Either way, he’d be a great addition to the QB room, helping show McCarthy how to prepare for each opponent.
Geno Smith
He may be coming off one of the worst seasons of his NFL career, but how much of Smith’s struggles can be attributed to a rough situation with the Raiders? Because a year ago, the two-time Pro Bowler’s numbers were pretty good. Smith completed 70.4% of his passes for 4,320 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Considering the Vikings may be able to sign him for a bargain price, Smith is worth looking into.
Aaron Rodgers
Again, it all comes back to what the Vikings are really looking for. If they want to buy time to iron out the kings with McCarthy, then a 42-year-old future Hall of Famer may be the perfect fit. At this stage, Rodgers knows what not to do to help keep his team in the game. His advanced understanding of defenses could help swing a few games in Minnesota’s favor next season. Plus, perhaps playing with the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson can help Rodgers turn back the clock to his MVP form here and there. If so, the Vikings might have a contender here.
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Kyler Murray
If the Vikings are looking for the best quarterback possible, then they won’t do much better than this former No. 1 overall pick. The best part is, they won’t even have to trade anything for him or pay him the average market rate. They can get a two-time Pro Bowl QB who’s still just 27 at a salary that’s cheaper than McCarthy. It’s insane value, especially if O’Connell can get the best out of Murray, who’s best days may actually be ahead of him with the right structure, and Minnesota might have all the answers. Look, if O’Connell can make Josh Dobbs look he had star potential, then imagine what he can do with a supercharged version of a dual-threat QB with a much more accurate arm?
Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 Projections Before NFL Free Agency
