NFL insider reveals Minnesota Vikings’ offseason plans at quarterback, including the future for J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy will only have 10 games of starting experience under his belt, and the Minnesota Vikings could be looking elsewhere.
The one through line for the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 season has been quarterback play. When J.J. McCarthy has been the starter, the Vikings have gone 5-4, and 3-4 without him. No matter who was playing quarterback, this is the worst offense the Vikings have had by EPA/play since the turn of the century.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go for the Vikings. McCarthy was the first quarterback the Vikings selected in the top-10 in franchise history. Being in a position where there is still no answer about the quarterback position is not where you want to be, and this time, there might not be an in-house solution.
Dianna Russini reports the Vikings will seek outside quarterback help
After not making backup quarterback a priority last offseason, having someone other than McCarthy in the building is a good business decision. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that the Vikings will seek another “established quarterback option.”
“Quarterback J.J. McCarthy will return to the Minnesota Vikings next season, but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be the starter. The Vikings were looking for emphatic proof this season that he’s the long-term answer, and because of a series of injuries, they never got it. Over the next few months, sources say, Minnesota plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room.
“Though Minnesota is open to bringing in veteran competition for the 22-year-old, O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have no plans to move on from the quarterback they traded up to draft less than two years ago. McCarthy’s continued development will be a central storyline for the Vikings as they enter an offseason filled with questions surrounding their aging and expensive roster.”
It’s an interesting conversation to have at quarterback. There is no doubt that McCarthy hasn’t been very good for the majority of the season. However, his recent stretch of play has been encouraging. Will it be encouraging enough to continue making him the guy moving forward?
The one thing that could be the deciding factor is McCarthy’s injury history. In two seasons, McCarthy has five diagnosed injuries in just 11 games played. He will get his 12th start on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, and that information will help determine McCarthy’s future.
Vikings will have multiple options to pursue
The important part about Russini’s report is the inclusion of trades, not just free agents. That opens the options up for the Vikings. Who could they end up targeting? Here are a few options:
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
- Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
- Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders
- Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
- Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers
- Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams
- Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
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