2026 Free Agency and Draft: QB

[MaroonBells]

Probably won't draft one, but the QB we choose to come in and compete with JJ McCarthy could be the most pivotal decision the Vikings will make this offseason. It's also possible JJ McCarthy's improvement will render this decision moot? Meanwhile, Derek Carr's brother throws out a little purple and gold chum...

[supafreak84]

I've always been a fan of Carr. Almost fell out of my chair on draft day when we traded up in the draft and took Bridgewater over him. I think he'd be perfect and checks all the boxes of what the Vikings would be looking for and what all around makes sense. They were talking about Carr on NFL Radio this morning and the thought is the Saints (who still own his rights), would release him as a gesture of good will in response to his gesture of good will and forgoing his salary when he retired. High level veteran, can make all the throws, only 34 (significantly younger than Rodgers or Cousins), and allows you to still keep and develope McCarthy. Win win all the way around

[Zanary]

After Carr's 2016 peak, wins got much rarer and he disappeared in big games at a level shared by Kyler Murray.

Where all faults lie is worth conversation, but Cousins certainly proved more and more recently...and both he and Wentz have already been in our system/playbook.

[MaroonBells]

After Carr's 2016 peak, wins got much rarer and he disappeared in big games at a level shared by Kyler Murray.

Where all faults lie is worth conversation, but Cousins certainly proved more and more recently...and both he and Wentz have already been in our system/playbook.

Cousins is a good option for the reasons you mention. One thing arguing for Carr is his age. Will be 35 on opening day. Cousins will be 38. 

I think we can forget about Wentz.  You fired the "problem" in the front office and have adamantly stated how important it is to achieve a truly competitive QB room this time around, and you bring back the exact same QB room the fired guy gave you? Even if Wentz were the best option (he's not), the optics of that decision would be ugly and hard to defend to fans and media.

[Vanguard83]

Wonder what Davis Mills would cost.

[MaroonBells]

Tom Pelissero names 4 QBs the Vikings "are considering." 

Kirk Cousins

If Cousins’ return to Minnesota is a genuine possibility, the central question becomes not whether it happens, but what role he would fill. Cousins was an undisputed QB1 for years, but that’s no longer the case. A reunion would be complex, and Kevin O’Connell would face three options: immediately install Cousins as the Week 1 starter, allow him to compete with J.J. McCarthy, or use him as a strictly backup option — the same insurance role he was projected for in Atlanta in 2025.

In 2023, his last season as Minnesota’s starter, Cousins ranked fifth in the NFL among quarterbacks in EPA per play. In 2024, that number plummeted to 30th out of 35 qualifying passers. Any assessment must consider his torn Achilles from a few years ago; projecting Cousins’ performance in 2026 demands more realism and less nostalgia.

The primary allure of a return lies in the financial aspect. Because the Falcons have essentially already paid Cousins — handsomely — for 2026, his next contract will likely be a bargain. That changes the discourse significantly. The cap-related frustration that followed him from 2018 to 2023 disappears if his salary aligns with that of a backup.

If affordability eliminates the resentment that once surrounded Cousins, will parts of the fanbase that rejected him at his previous price now embrace him at a discount — especially if his role is flexible rather than guaranteed? Who knows.

Mac Jones

The main item surrounding Jones’s 2026 plans isn’t if he can start in the NFL, but what it would cost to acquire him.

In 2025, Jones started eight games for San Francisco, leading the 49ers to a 5–3 record. Extrapolated to a full season, those numbers project to 4,570 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 69.6 percent completion rate. That’s Top 15 QB stuff.

Those statistics are also comparable to Sam Darnold’s 2024 season, the same year Minnesota finished 14–3. Neither Jones’s recent game film nor his efficiency metrics suggest he would suddenly regress in Minnesota.

San Francisco is positioned to capitalize on the desperation of quarterback-needy teams via trade, and Minnesota must decide if it will enter the Jones sweepstakes. Jones is a good fit for many teams. Ultimately, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski must decide if sending 1st- or 2nd-Round pick to The Bay — or something similar — is worth it.

Kyler Murray

Murray’s talent is evident, regardless of other options.

Over seven seasons, his EPA+CPOE numbers exceed those of Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and Daniel Jones — all quarterbacks currently projected to start in 2026. That established efficiency isn’t negotiable, even though some Vikings fans are oddly hesitant about Murray to Minnesota.

Arizona’s situation strengthens Murray’s case for change. With a new head coach, the Cardinals seem ready to move on after seven years and just one playoff appearance with Murray. The man could be traded any day or released in March.

Considering only realistic possibilities, Murray quickly emerges as a top candidate. Based on his career production and status as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, he represents the best quarterback Minnesota could realistically acquire this offseason, barring improbable trades involving players like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson.

Murray has everything going for him on any given Sunday — aside from height — passing accuracy, arm strength, speed, mobility, and experience.

Geno Smith

Smith’s extensive resume sets him apart from many quarterbacks available this offseason, making him an attractive option for teams that want stability and insurance.

Since 2013, Smith has started 98 games, with his teams compiling a 42–56 record along the way. He averages roughly 203 passing yards per game, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 124 to 89, and has added 12 rushing touchdowns.

Seattle’s decision to name him their starter in 2022 revitalized his career, as Smith seized the opportunity, delivering a breakout season with 4,282 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He retained the role for three seasons before joining the Raiders via trade, which propelled the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win after signing Sam Darnold in 2025 free agency.

However, Smith’s tenure in Las Vegas appears short-lived. With the Raiders widely expected to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza using the first overall pick in April, Smith could be traded or demoted. Should he seek a new team, Minnesota is a decent landing spot for all parties.

It’s worth noting that Smith will turn 36 in October.

[supafreak84]

Good lord, Geno Smith would be awful. That dude is cooked.