When the Minnesota Vikings made JJ McCarthy the 10th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, they firmly believed he would be a franchise QB for the next decade. Even when a knee injury sidelined him for all of his rookie season, they still held that same belief and let both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones walk in free agency in the spring.
However, over his nine starts this season, he has not delivered meaningful hope that he will live up to expectations, as he has 12 interceptions to 11 touchdown passes and a meager 71.2 passer rating. It has created a lot of speculation that the Vikings could look to have a QB competition in the summer, and on Saturday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini added fuel to that narrative.
“Over the next few months, sources say, Minnesota plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room,” Russini wrote.
Minnesota will need to do some serious financial maneuvering to free up space to add a meaningful veteran QB. But if they can, we look at five players they could target this offseason.
Malik Willis
There has been a lot of buzz around Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis over the last month. He has played very well under the tutelage of Matt Lafleur, and he has changed the narrative about being another QB draft bust. While he will get solid money in free agency this spring, it won’t be an absurd amount.
Kevin O’Connell and his previous work with QBs should certainly appeal to Willis, as well as a chance to compete for a starting job. For the Vikings, they would get a signal caller with a lot of upside who is still only 26 and would come at a lower financial cost than some of the veteran options in the trade market.
Tua Tagovailoa
It seems likely that Tua Tagovailoa’s time with the Miami Dolphins is over. Two years ago, he was a Pro Bowler and one of the bright young stars in the game. However, concussion issues and a down season in 2025 have the team rethinking their plans for the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
There is certainly risk in a trade for Tagovailoa, plus his huge contract makes a deal difficult to put together. However, he is only 27, has a lot of experience, and just threw for over 4,600 yards and 29 TDs two years ago. With Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones, he could have a similar monster season in Minnesota in 2026.
Kenny Pickett
Some feel 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett didn’t get a fair shake with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Did he look like a superstar? No. But he had a 14-10 record and put up better stats than McCarthy with less big-time talent. If the Vikings would like a cost-effective veteran with upside, the former Pittsburgh Panthers star should be on Minnesota’s radar this offseason.
Kyler Murray
Similar to Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray is likely done with the Arizona Cardinals after seven up-and-down seasons. At one point, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft looked like a bona fide star and franchise QB after back-to-back trips to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2021. However, injuries and inconsistent play have led to underwhelming seasons and losing records for the Cards over the last four years.
Unlike Tagovailoa, Murray’s yearly rate is more reasonable and peaks with $34 million in 2028, which is a club option. If anyone could get Murray back to being an elite talent, it would be O’Connell. It’s a risky move, but one the Vikings should seriously consider.
Daniel Jones
After having a spectacular debut season for the Indianapolis Colts, Daniel Jones added to the narrative that the Vikings made a big mistake in the offseason because it showed they let not one, but two Pro Bowl-level QBs walk in free agency. Could they reunite with him this offseason and admit the error in their decision?
It’s very possible, but it’s risky because he is recovering from a torn ACL. It might help lower his price in free agency, but if he can’t be nimble with his legs, is he the same player? Nevertheless, he showed what he can do with the right coaching and talent around him. Before his injury, Indy looked like a serious Super Bowl contender in 2025.
