“Neither committed to McCarthy as their 2026 starter, but they also have not written him off after his injury-filled, roller-coaster 10-game NFL debut. In other words, the Vikings have positioned themselves roughly where they were at this time in 2025: hoping to pair McCarthy with a starting-caliber quarterback as both competition and a safeguard against injuries and/or slower-than-expected development.”

During McCarthy’s 10 starts this season, he turned the corner in games No. 7, 8, 9, and 10, looking like a competent quarterback and putting the sins of his first six starts in the rearview. At that point, fans wondered about the offseason strategy at quarterback: Had McCarthy done enough to retain his QB1 job outright?

That answer seems to be no.

Learning the Lesson the Hard Way

Why is a deep quarterback room a chief priority for the Vikings in 2026? Easy — they’re forced to learn from their mistakes.

Last March, Minnesota watched as all the reputable backup quarterbacks flew off the board in free agency, basically kicking back and doing nothing. At the time, the club had McCarthy and Brett Rypien under contract.

As it turned out, the master plan involved trading for Sam Howell during the 2025 NFL Draft, an inexpensive move that looked good on paper and put the clamps on fans’ fear that the Vikings had “forgotten” about a QB2.

Fast forward to training camp and the preseason, and Howell looked unplayable, prompting a trade to the Philadelphia Eagles and a late-summer free-agent signing of Carson Wentz, who held the QB2 job until he tore his labrum and hit season-ending injured reserve in October.

McCarthy continued to battle multiple injuries, and Minnesota used undrafted rookie passer Max Brosmer, who performed terribly — like an undrafted rookie quarterback. This go-round, the Vikings have apparently learned that backup quarterbacks matter when the primary guy, McCarthy, is injury-prone.

Minnesota also chose not to hand fat contracts to the aforementioned Darnold or Jones, two decisions that have been scrutinized beyond belief in the last five months.

The Free Agent Contenders

What does a free-agent quarterback to compete with McCarthy this year look like? Well, the list is enormous, but it’s a bit underwhelming, aside from Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis.

loves the spotlight of a prolonged flirtation.

The Trade Options

If free agency is not the preferred route for McCarthy’s incoming competition, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could consult the trade process, which he loves.

These men feel like appropriate targets:

• Kirk Cousins
• Justin Fields
• Mac Jones
• Will Levis
• Drew Lock
• Jalen Milroe
• Davis Mills
• Kyler Murray
• Spencer Rattler
• Anthony Richardson
• Tua Tagovailoa
• Jameis Winston

Jones and Murray make the most sense for the Vikings, two guys who could fill the QB1 role for years to come if McCarthy flames out. One must wonder, though, if the San Francisco 49ers are in a hurry to trade Jones. Their quarterback, Brock Purdy, has injury concerns of his own. And Murray’s cap number in 2026 is over $50 million — a tough sell for a Vikings team that begins the offseason over budget by about $35 million.

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