2026 Free Agency and Draft: QB

[JimmyinSD]

I just think he's cooked. Led the league in interceptions. I get the Raiders were bad, but Geno played his part. His famous quote a few years ago of "they wrote me off, I ain't write back though" was great, but Geno, I think you wrote them back last year.

I'm not very up on Smith,  but maybe the raiders staff/offense just werent a good fit for him?

[supafreak84]

I'm not very up on Smith,  but maybe the raiders staff/offense just werent a good fit for him?

It was Pete Carroll...the only coach he's had any success under at all in his pro career. The Raiders were not a good team but Geno played his part in that. 

We have to do better than Geno Smith.

[MaroonBells]

It was Pete Carroll...the only coach he's had any success under at all in his pro career. The Raiders were not a good team but Geno played his part in that. 

We have to do better than Geno Smith.

I was not a fan of the Geno idea, but I'm coming around to it. I would think for those that want JJ to be the starter next year, Geno might be exactly who you'd want. 

If you divide the candidates into groups, I think there are QBs who would be de facto starters (Murray, Mac J, maybe Rodgers), QBs who would be de facto backups (Mariota, Trubisky), and then QBs who would give us the true competition we're looking for. I tend to think Geno (and maybe Cousins) are options who would provide a competition that could go either way.

[supafreak84]

I was not a fan of the Geno idea, but I'm coming around to it. I would think for those that want JJ to be the starter next year, Geno might be exactly who you'd want. 

If you divide the candidates into groups, I think there are QBs who would be de facto starters (Murray, Mac J, maybe Rodgers), QBs who would be de facto backups (Mariota, Trubisky), and then QBs who would give us the true competition we're looking for. I tend to think Geno (and maybe Cousins) are options who would provide a competition that could go either way.

If Geno is our starter next year in a loaded NFC North, we'll be drafting very high in the 2027 draft and OConnell will be a goner. Maybe that's not the worst thing in the world..

[JimmyinSD]

I was not a fan of the Geno idea, but I'm coming around to it. I would think for those that want JJ to be the starter next year, Geno might be exactly who you'd want. 

If you divide the candidates into groups, I think there are QBs who would be de facto starters (Murray, Mac J, maybe Rodgers), QBs who would be de facto backups (Mariota, Trubisky), and then QBs who would give us the true competition we're looking for. I tend to think Geno (and maybe Cousins) are options who would provide a competition that could go either way.

I think I would rather see us bring in another young bust that will likely have potential upside,  but make them understand that they are going to sit and learn the O, before they get any chance to compete for the starting role.  Gives JJ at least half a season to make it his IMO.

My goal in 2026 isnt to see how far we can go in the playoffs,  its to settle the JJM matter,  if he cant stay healthy ( physically or mentally) then we need to have somebody in the wings that might fill that role in 27.   I would consider any QB that is under 30 and could be available for no more than a day 3 pick or is a free agent.  I dont think we are a SB contender right now,  but I would like to think that with the right additions and moves this year that 27 could be the target.

[MaroonBells]

I think I would rather see us bring in another young bust that will likely have potential upside,  but make them understand that they are going to sit and learn the O, before they get any chance to compete for the starting role.  Gives JJ at least half a season to make it his IMO.

My goal in 2026 isnt to see how far we can go in the playoffs,  its to settle the JJM matter,  if he cant stay healthy ( physically or mentally) then we need to have somebody in the wings that might fill that role in 27.   I would consider any QB that is under 30 and could be available for no more than a day 3 pick or is a free agent.  I dont think we are a SB contender right now,  but I would like to think that with the right additions and moves this year that 27 could be the target.

I disagree that the Vikings would not be Super Bowl contenders next season with the right QB. We've all seen what getting the QB right can do for a 4-13 team like the Patriots, while the Seahawks went from mid to champions. I think the Vikings are every bit as good as those teams if they get the QB right. 

Interesting comments from Albert Breer: 

"Kyler's got $36.8 million guaranteed this year, and then another $19.5 million guaranteed next year. So, that complicates trading for him, [and] that complicates cutting him.


So, I think you see the way that that splits up, and I think it probably makes it more likely that Arizona just flat out has to move off of him and cut him and let him go to the market.

I think he will find a place that'll view him as that sort of reclamation project. Maybe it's Minnesota. Maybe it's the Jets. We'll see.

But I think the contract situation makes it a little harder for the Cardinals to hang onto him, and a little harder for the Cardinals to trade him, which makes it more likely that they'll cut him."

[StickierBuns]

I disagree that the Vikings would not be Super Bowl contenders next season with the right QB. We've all seen what getting the QB right can do for a 4-13 team like the Patriots, while the Seahawks went from mid to champions. I think the Vikings are every bit as good as those teams if they get the QB right. 

Interesting comments from Albert Breer: 

"Kyler's got $36.8 million guaranteed this year, and then another $19.5 million guaranteed next year. So, that complicates trading for him, [and] that complicates cutting him.


So, I think you see the way that that splits up, and I think it probably makes it more likely that Arizona just flat out has to move off of him and cut him and let him go to the market.

I think he will find a place that'll view him as that sort of reclamation project. Maybe it's Minnesota. Maybe it's the Jets. We'll see.

But I think the contract situation makes it a little harder for the Cardinals to hang onto him, and a little harder for the Cardinals to trade him, which makes it more likely that they'll cut him."

One way or the other, we should know in not too long:

'This situation could escalate quickly because the Cardinals only have until March 16 before $19.5 million of Murray's 2027 contract' becomes guaranteed.

[MaroonBells]

Not sure Willis is an option for us. Am I just missing something here? He's a free agent that can choose his next team. Why would he go to Minnesota to compete when there are likely going to be a few teams who can offer him a starting job? 

But I do tend to agree with the tone of the Murray section. Like why is there even a debate? There's a former #1 overall pick who's proven he can play in the NFL. He's not perfect, but this is not Bryce Young or even Trevor Lawrence. This is a 2X Pro Bowler with good numbers and tools for days, and also a pretty good case to be made that his surround was at least partially responsible for him not living up to his #1 overall status.  It seems a little odd that this isn't the obvious 1st choice for us. Who knows, maybe it is. 

________________

https://vikingsterritory.com/2026/news/t...lis-murray

The Minnesota Vikings have made it clear that another quarterback is on the way this offseason; it’s just a matter of when. This analysis, after careful deliberation, weighs the best three options.

Mac Jones, Malik Willis, and Kyler Murray headline Minnesota’s realistic QB paths, ranked by price, upside, and fit.

For starters, VikingsTerritory does not endorse Minnesota signing a retread quarterback like Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr to perhaps squeeze a little bit of the golden years from their respective arms. The Vikings have tried that method for over 30 years, and it never amounts to a Super Bowl appearance.

We’re also intrigued by trades for “upside” guys like Anthony Richardson and Will Levis, but those two, in particular, have similar flaws to J.J. McCarthy: inconsistent or bad performance + rocky injury history.

Moreover, trading for Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, or Justin Herbert just isn’t realistic. If any of those men are traded, that’s probably a 2027 offseason talking point. So, weighing head coach Kevin O’Connell’s presumptive mission statement to win now — meaning he may not have time or enough clout to see if McCarthy will sink or swim by himself — three clear options emerge if Minnesota wishes to have the best of both worlds: keeping McCarthy in-house while having another quarterback who could fill the long-term QB1 goal if needed.

A final disclaimer: if the decision were up to us, we’d ride with McCarthy in 2026, adding a high-end backup like Marcus Mariota or Drew Lock (via trade), and then if McCarthy flames out, draft a quarterback in the deep 2027 class. However, O’Connell likely doesn’t have that runway at his fingertips. He may have to reach the postseason and win a playoff game to maintain his employment.

That said, these are the top three quarterbacks for the Vikings to target in the 2026 offseason, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best option).

3. Mac Jones
Expensive Trade with SF

Let’s get this out of the way: if Jones were a free agent, and O’Connell could sign him for $20 million to $25 million per year, he’d live at No. 1 on this list. Full stop. He’s probably the next guy in line to continue the Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield reclamation epic tale.

But the San Francisco 49ers are playing hardball with his availability. They seem to be posturing for a 1st – or 2nd-Round pick via trade if a quarterback-needy team wants his services. Put plainly, the Vikings cannot afford that after four years’ worth of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s dismal drafting habits. Minnesota must keep its high-round picks, hell or high water.

If Jones were guaranteed to be the Vikings’ long-term solution at quarterback, the price tag would be worthwhile. But he played like garbage as recently as 2024. His arm strength is also suspect — some even say unbecoming of his 1st-Round draft stock in 2021.

Regardless, Jones put together eight Darnoldian games in San Francisco when Brock Purdy got hurt last season. He would probably work just fine in O’Connell’s system. It’s just not worth a 1st-or 2nd-Rounder when the next two guys are semi-gettable.

2. Malik Willis
Free Agency

Of 58 quarterbacks in 2025 with 55 dropbacks or more, Willis was the NFL’s best quarterback per EPA+CPOE — and the race wasn’t close. By leaps and bounds, he outclassed everyone. The problem? His 58 dropbacks are a small sample, and no one is too sure if his production is sustainable.

Yet, in a league where Darnold and Mayfield scripted back-to-back redemption narratives, it’s not outrageous to believe Willis will be next. He ranks No. 2 on this list because of his free agency — the Vikings or any team won’t have to trade draft capital to get him.

There are also concerns about his ability to rear back and throw 400 times in a season. Can he do it? Maybe. As a rule of thumb, O’Connell needs a quarterback who can throw primarily and then take off with his legs secondarily. It’s unclear whether Willis has the “passing volume” gene.

The alluring part? No matter where he lands, he’s perhaps the only free-agent quarterback with untapped upside to become a team’s QB1 for the foreseeable future. It’s one thing to sign Jimmy Garoppolo, knowing his days are numbered, and his job is to fill in the gaps like Carson Wentz in Minnesota last year. In Willis, his next team can unlock their QB1 for the next 7-10 years.

He deserves a contract between $20 million and $25 million per year. The Vikings must determine if his success in Green Bay can translate elsewhere, mainly in a pass-happy offense. If so, sign him up.

1. Kyler Murray
Free Agency or Modest Trade with ARI

It’s incredibly surprising that Vikings fans are so sour on Murray because he “doesn’t fit the system” in Minnesota. Murray had 4.38 speed not long ago, can throw the ball 65-70 yards, and his completion percentage through seven seasons is the fifth-best in NFL history. Like Willis, some don’t think he fits the Vikings’ offense like a glove.

Who cares?

He has every physical tool — besides ideal quarterback height — to succeed. He’s also not starting from rock bottom like Darnold or Mayfield a few years ago. In the last seven years, he has a better EPA+CPOE than Daniel Jones, Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Baker Mayfield, and C.J. Stroud. Perhaps fans are leaning too heavily into the narrative that Murray enjoys video games. Again — who cares?

On the “scheme fit,” if O’Connell cannot embrace a quarterback with wide receiver speed, supreme arm strength, and precision accuracy, there is something wrong with O’Connell, not Murray. Should the Cardinals release Murray, O’Connell should sprint to his agent, sign Murray, and then change his offense. Why is O’Connell above tweaking his system? The Baltimore Ravens went from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson eight years ago, and Ravens fans didn’t say, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. This new guy isn’t like Flacco.”

You wouldn’t ask Steph Curry to win a dunk contest. You wouldn’t ask Kirk Cousins to run the Wildcat. Change the offense to fit Murray’s strengths. It’s not a supernatural idea.

Obviously, the Cardinals releasing Murray would make life easier; they’d be on the hook for his fat contract. A trade is trickier because Minnesota would have to fire off a draft pick — probably a 4th- or 5th-Rounder, according to current reporting — and then rework Murray’s contract. Regardless, it can be done.

Murray is a Darnold or Mayfield who needs polish, not wholesale rejuvenation.

Can you imagine if Arizona drops Murray, and the Vikings and/or fans arrive at a spot, thinking, “We can Murray for a million bucks or Tyrod Taylor for four million bucks. What should we do?” Feels like a Twilight Zone.

Landing Murray’s is O’Connell’s best shot at long-term job security if he knows McCarthy won’t pan out as planned or if he doesn’t trust McCarthy’s durability.

Murray — a 28-year-old — averages these numbers per 17 games:

—— 3,997 Passing Yards
—— 30 Total Touchdowns
—— 11 INTs
—— 67.1% Completion
—— 623 Rushing Yards

That isn’t good enough for the Vikings? A team with 38-year-old Kirk Cousins and retired Derek Carr inside its rumor mill? What on earth?

[purplefaithful]

If they bring in Murray to me that says they have even lesser faith in JJM than I thought
I think Murray is damaged goods, he aint the same guy he was a year or 2 into his career anymore
I don't trust KOC to evolve an offense to fit Murrays strengths.

[StickierBuns]

For me, Murray lacks in leadership and optics with the guys. Talented for sure. I mean he was selected #1 overall in 2019. IMO, he's not damaged goods and he's 28 years old, so he's hitting his prime right now. He's not my cup of tea, but it can't be said he's not a big ol' handful when he's on his game. But there's also a reason that Arizona is probably not going to commit to him moving forward.

If Minnesota were to sign Murray, it would be as the presumptive starter. Derek Carr would also be a guy that would come in and start. Willis is going to be the crown jewel of some other team's offseason, but it won't be in Minnesota.