Next QB? Look beyond the names you are hearing?
One veteran player hasn’t come up much in connection to the Vikings, but would fit their QB room perfectly.
The two most popular candidates to share the Vikings’ quarterback room with J.J. McCarthy are Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins. The Vikings might not be able to land either.
Jones is the backup with the San Francisco 49ers and is a favorite target of speculative Vikings fans.
But why would the 49ers, who have championship aspirations, and a starting quarterback who is frequently injured, trade their high-quality backup? And what would it cost if they did?
Cousins recently reworked his massive contract with the Atlanta Falcons so that he could become a free agent this summer. He would be ideal for the Vikings as someone who has succeeded in the Vikings’ system, but would he come back to Minnesota to back up a less-accomplished quarterback, and how much would the Vikings be willing to pay someone who might not see the field?
While Jones and Cousins will become the stars of Speculation Season, I think there are more logical targets out there.
McCarthy should be the Vikings’ starter entering 2026. But the Vikings can’t be assured he will stay healthy or keep the job. So what they need is someone who can win games if needed but not someone who will come to town with the expectation of starting.
This will require some needle-threading.
Let’s look at what they did last year.
They traded for Sam Howell, who failed almost immediately.
They picked up Carson Wentz as a “street” free agent, meaning he was sitting at home.
They tried Max Brosmer, who had played one year of major college football.
My suggestion: How about doing none of the above this offseason?
I think there is a sleeper candidate who is being overlooked.
He has not only played in a Super Bowl, he had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before Patrick Mahomes took over the game.
His postseason record is 4-2.
His career completion percentage is 67.4, better than Cousins’ 66.7 or Jones’ 66.5.
He has learned under two of the best offensive coaches in football in Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay.
Because he plays for McVay, he is familiar with the offense run by Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.
This player has a far better résumé than Daniel Jones, Cousins or Sam Darnold did before those players arrived in Minnesota.
And because he’s been a backup the past two seasons, he’s healthy and couldn’t make realistic demands about being a starter.
He might also look at the Vikings’ current quarterback situation the way Jones looked at Indianapolis’ last offseason. Jones thought he could beat out young Anthony Richardson, and he was right.
Who am I talking about?
You’ve probably guessed by now: Jimmy Garoppolo.
The name might not excite you. I would encourage you to compare his résumé with every other attainable quarterback on the market.
Now, if Joe Burrow demands a trade from Cincinnati, he would become the subject of a bidding war, and the Vikings would probably at least try to acquire him.
But there is a problem with Burrow: He makes a massive amount of money. To acquire him would cost draft picks, players and funds, which would leave the Vikings in the same situation that Burrow is now trying to extricate himself from — a team that pays its skill-position players so much money that it can’t fund an offensive line or defense.
Garoppolo is on a one-year deal with the Rams. Unless Matthew Stafford retires and the Rams are willing to hand the job to Garoppolo, he will likely be looking for a place where he can make one more run as a starter.
With McCarthy and Garoppolo, the Vikings would have a talented youngster and an accomplished veteran in the room, with Brosmer as their developmental quarterback.
The Vikings could do a lot worse. We know, because they did a lot worse at the backup quarterback position this season.
credit: Souhan/Strib
I would be perfectly fine with Jimmy G in the QB room this year...Probably more so than Rogers tbh.
I reserve the right to edit this post after the Steelers play their first rd playoff game too ;)
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I just about puked reading this, Jimmy G is the last thing other than Rodgers that we need, if we wanted a weak arm Cousins, why not just get Cousins. Not that I think Cousins is the answer either. We need someone who can seriously compete for the job. I do not think JJM should be the starter going into next year, he can compete and win it if he deserves to, but no way based on his performance this year should he be named the starter. .
Jimmy G is definitely a viable option given his experience in the McVay offense, which is very similar to ours. He's only 34 and can play too. But he's decidedly on the backup end of the continuum along with Mariota and a few others. If the Vikings want a starter or even someone who can legitimately compete with JJ, they'll have to aim higher.
There's no world in which the Vikings hire a starter and put JJM on the bench. That's basically the end of JJM in purple if it happens, because they aren't going to run him back in his 4th year (if KAM/KOC even still have jobs then) to FAFO JJM.
They sold ownership on the draft/develop a qb on a rookie contract idea and jettisoned Darnold and by default Jones in the process. The process isn't going to now morph into, "Quick, find a starter, call Aaron Rodgers!" Who btw will either play in Pittsburgh again next year or retire, he will not be in purple.
What they need is a backup who can run KOC's YOLO shit that he loves so much and I can think of one guy who would be just right, but like several potential backups out there, he's under contract. But that should not be a huge issue because his team is about to hire a new HC and he might not be in their plans and they probably would take a low level draft pick for him if they don't just cut him. And that's Jameis Winston.
And yes he's a turnover machine but so is Sam Darnold who leads the league this year and certainly showed no signs of slowing down in that department when he was with us. It doesn't matter. He's entertaining, looks like a hero on one play and a heel the next, he's a YOLO-ball savant, and the 2026 Vikings are going to need to find a way to be entertaining because unless there is some sort of miracle improvement from JJM, whoever they get to quarterback this thing is simply not going to be elite, and if Flores leaves the defense that has carried the team for the last few years is likely to fall off badly.
KOC hates the 12 personnel, run-oriented stuff that JJM is best suited for. And taking into account JJM's mechanical, accuracy and maturity issues, none of which look like they will be easily fixed, I see KOC/KAM running him back but with a guy like Winston at the ready. This gives KOC the flexibility to pull JJM off the field at any time during the season, but doesn't require a big spend or a promise of starting time to Winston when he's acquired. I guarantee you that as soon as he gets to the point where he can legit bench JJM without blowback from ownership or whoever makes the real decisions over at TCO, he will breathe a huge sigh of relief and get back to calling epic-fail triple reverse tight end option deep shots on 3rd or 4th and 1.
Montana Tom wrote:
One veteran player hasn’t come up much in connection to the Vikings, but would fit their QB room perfectly.The two most popular candidates to share the Vikings’ quarterback room with J.J. McCarthy are Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins. The Vikings might not be able to land either.
Jones is the backup with the San Francisco 49ers and is a favorite target of speculative Vikings fans.
But why would the 49ers, who have championship aspirations, and a starting quarterback who is frequently injured, trade their high-quality backup? And what would it cost if they did?
Cousins recently reworked his massive contract with the Atlanta Falcons so that he could become a free agent this summer. He would be ideal for the Vikings as someone who has succeeded in the Vikings’ system, but would he come back to Minnesota to back up a less-accomplished quarterback, and how much would the Vikings be willing to pay someone who might not see the field?
While Jones and Cousins will become the stars of Speculation Season, I think there are more logical targets out there.
McCarthy should be the Vikings’ starter entering 2026. But the Vikings can’t be assured he will stay healthy or keep the job. So what they need is someone who can win games if needed but not someone who will come to town with the expectation of starting.
This will require some needle-threading.
Let’s look at what they did last year.
They traded for Sam Howell, who failed almost immediately.
They picked up Carson Wentz as a “street” free agent, meaning he was sitting at home.
They tried Max Brosmer, who had played one year of major college football.
My suggestion: How about doing none of the above this offseason?
I think there is a sleeper candidate who is being overlooked.
He has not only played in a Super Bowl, he had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before Patrick Mahomes took over the game.
His postseason record is 4-2.
His career completion percentage is 67.4, better than Cousins’ 66.7 or Jones’ 66.5.
He has learned under two of the best offensive coaches in football in Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay.
Because he plays for McVay, he is familiar with the offense run by Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.
This player has a far better résumé than Daniel Jones, Cousins or Sam Darnold did before those players arrived in Minnesota.
And because he’s been a backup the past two seasons, he’s healthy and couldn’t make realistic demands about being a starter.
He might also look at the Vikings’ current quarterback situation the way Jones looked at Indianapolis’ last offseason. Jones thought he could beat out young Anthony Richardson, and he was right.
Who am I talking about?
You’ve probably guessed by now: Jimmy Garoppolo.
The name might not excite you. I would encourage you to compare his résumé with every other attainable quarterback on the market.
Now, if Joe Burrow demands a trade from Cincinnati, he would become the subject of a bidding war, and the Vikings would probably at least try to acquire him.
But there is a problem with Burrow: He makes a massive amount of money. To acquire him would cost draft picks, players and funds, which would leave the Vikings in the same situation that Burrow is now trying to extricate himself from — a team that pays its skill-position players so much money that it can’t fund an offensive line or defense.
Garoppolo is on a one-year deal with the Rams. Unless Matthew Stafford retires and the Rams are willing to hand the job to Garoppolo, he will likely be looking for a place where he can make one more run as a starter.
With McCarthy and Garoppolo, the Vikings would have a talented youngster and an accomplished veteran in the room, with Brosmer as their developmental quarterback.
The Vikings could do a lot worse. We know, because they did a lot worse at the backup quarterback position this season.
credit: Souhan/Strib
Weak arm, injury prone and suspended 2 games for PED. No.
comet52 wrote:
There's no world in which the Vikings hire a starter and put JJM on the bench.
or he gets hurt, again...
People sleep peacably at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Interesting that all of Baker's options here are young, direct competitions with JJ McCarthy. Murray would be the de facto starter given what we'd be paying him. Just not sure how likely that is. I could be wrong but I think there's a better chance we more aim at the aging veteran backup who could start and not hurt you.
Ranking the Vikings’ Best QB Fixes for 2026
Dustin Baker
Because of J.J. McCarthy’s lengthy injury transcript and his rocky performance in 2025, plus the Minnesota Vikings’ leadership mandate to “win now” next season, a different quarterback is almost certainly on the way during the 2026 offseason. This publication ranks the best, most realistic options.
Minnesota needs a credible QB2 plan behind McCarthy, and these realistic targets fit Kevin O’Connell’s approach and the cap situation.
What this analysis will not do is suggest a bombastic fix like, “Just trade for Joe Burrow,” because the Cincinnati Bengals would need Luka Doncic-level decision-making to trade him. Focusing on realism is the wiser method.
5. Trade a Late-Rounder for Will Levis
Levis could be on the move this offseason. He’s spent this year parked on injured reserve, and Tennessee may have already seen enough from Cam Ward to consider a Levis trade. The arm talent from Levis is real, but the platter comes with erratic decisions and a habit of inviting mayhem.
In Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback environment, that skill set becomes more manageable. Structure and repetition with O”Connell have a way of sharpening raw traits, and Levis would at least bring upside worth pondering.
4. Trade a Late-Rounder for Anthony Richardson
The Indianapolis Colts used the fourth overall pick on Anthony Richardson in 2023, knowing he was as raw as they get from the draft’s Top 10 and insisting they’d be patient with his maturation. How long did that experiment last? Oh, 15 starts.
The Colts compiled an 8-7 record with Richardson under center, but pulled the plug last summer after Daniel Jones played so well at training camp, and Richardson’s injury history is extensive.
Somewhere, Richardson will eventually deserve a chance to start again, just to make sure coaches have exhausted all QB1 efforts in him. Why not the Vikings? General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could probably get Richardson for a 6th-Round pick.
He has all the talent in his toolkit to succeed, and that’s why the Colts spent the fourth overall pick on him.
3. Sign Malik Willis from Free Agency
Willis has logged just 58 dropbacks this season, but the efficiency in that small window has been sweet. By EPA+CPOE, he’s been the most efficient quarterback in the league. That pace probably isn’t sustainable forever, but the seeds are there.
Willis is quietly rebuilding his career, and someone will give him a real QB1 audition in July and August. Minnesota could be one of the teams willing to see whether the progress holds.
He’ll probably cost somewhere between $15 million and $25 million per season. That’s chump change for a quarterback, especially as the Vikings won’t have to trade anything to get him.
2. Trade a Mid-Rounder for Mac Jones
Jones has revived his career in San Francisco. He got the full 49ers gift-wrapping.
These are his stats from 2025 stretched across a 17-game sample:
4,570 Passing Yards
28 Passing TDs
13 INTs
69.6% Completion
Does that path look familiar? Two years ago, Sam Darnold followed a similar arc under Kyle Shanahan and Klint Kubiak. Kubiak has since reunited with Darnold in Seattle, but the Shanahan thread connecting that turnaround to Jones is still in play.
Jones now sits in that same rebound lane, alongside the Daniel Jones revival template. Quarterback-needy teams will take notice of Jones this offseason. The question is whether Minnesota would consider sending a mid-round pick to San Francisco and whether that kind of swing would justify the cost.
Jones won’t come cheap. The 49ers locked him into a two-year deal last offseason, giving themselves the option to keep him in reserve for 2026 if Brock Purdy’s injury history continues to raise eyebrows.
The Alabama alumnus perfectly fits what Minnesota needs in a 2026: a passer ready to start as the QB1, if needed, but familiar with a QB2 role if McCarthy rises to stardom. He blends team need and contract affordability.
There’s just no way to know if he’s for sale.
1. Trade a Mid-Rounder for Kyler Murray
Murray has the mobility, arm strength, accuracy, experience, not-old age (28), and clutch gene to lead the Vikings. He’s the fifth-most accurate quarterback in NFL history (67.1%). He ran a 4.38 forty before the 2019 NFL Draft.
If the Arizona Cardinals make him available — they sure as hell appeared to “softly bench” him this year in favor of Jacoby Brissett — this is probably the best quarterback that Minnesota can realistically obtain this offseason.
Will he stifle McCarthy’s maturation? Probably. Yet, through a lens of Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell needing to win now, shoving their chips into the middle of the table for Murray makes the most sense. He’s not cheap; his cap number in 2026 is $53 million. Accordingly, the Vikings would probably have to rip up his contract, give him a handsome new one, and backload the deal. That’s feasible.
Quarterbacks with Murray’s talent and still-to-reach upside don’t become available on the open market very often. Should Arizona make him available — or flippantly release him — the 2026 Vikings would probably pounce.
Not for nothing, Murray’s trade price won’t be obscene like the price for Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson (two passers in Vikings fans’ shoot-for-stars plan). Adofo-Mensah might be able to send a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder to the Cardinals for Murray.
only 2 from that list interest me, willis if he doesnt want stupid money, this is not a guaranteed situation and he shouldnt get assumed starter money, anything north of 20 would have him off my radar, and the other is Richardson, only because he is still relatively cheap, still has a 5th year option available, and is young enough that any time invested in him wont be a waste even if he is only the #2.
my rules for the QB this offseason is no trade value higher than a 6th or 7th rounder, no contract paying more than 15-20 million (although I think that is probably 3-4 times more than we should be spending), and no implied starting status. JJM is our starter until he isnt IMO.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
6th round pick for Richardson?
I like the potential value in that...But he would be brought here to compete for QB1 imo.
Still not convinced thats the direction they want to go.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
JimmyinSD wrote:
only 2 from that list interest me, willis if he doesnt want stupid money, this is not a guaranteed situation and he shouldnt get assumed starter money, anything north of 20 would have him off my radar, and the other is Richardson, only because he is still relatively cheap, still has a 5th year option available, and is young enough that any time invested in him wont be a waste even if he is only the #2.my rules for the QB this offseason is no trade value higher than a 6th or 7th rounder, no contract paying more than 15-20 million (although I think that is probably 3-4 times more than we should be spending), and no implied starting status. JJM is our starter until he isnt IMO.
Right now, we have no definitive clue what we have in McCarthy. He could still develop nicely and be great; but he could also still be a total bust. I just fear that bringing in another young, totally unproven player like Levis and Richardson, while I get the big upside, there's a very real chance we end up with two busts instead of one. I think we need a QB who's put at least SOMETHING positive on tape.
MaroonBells wrote:
Right now, we have no definitive clue what we have in McCarthy. He could still develop nicely and be great; but he could also still be a total bust. I just fear that bringing in another young, totally unproven player like Levis and Richardson, while I get the big upside, there's a very real chance we end up with two busts instead of one. I think we need a QB who's put at least SOMETHING positive on tape.
and when JJM gets nicked again, and the supporting QB comes in and out plays JJM.. then you have a QB controversy and that doesnt do JJM any good. IMO you committed to finding a young QBOTF, then stick to that plan for at least 1 more season, if JJM doesnt show out next year, then take the lumps, prioritize QB in 27 draft and bring in your veteran mentor once again and start the process over.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
Kwesi just now in his presser...
When asked if he wants JJ to be the starter in 2026.
“I want the #Vikings to achieve their goals… I think he has the character and ability to be the person to do that for this organization… it’s my job to bring that deep and competitive room that we’ve talked about to the Vikings...."
And later, "our conversation is about returning the room to a competitive, deep enough standpoint to get that play-style, that ability to win games for 17 plus games in a season”
Sounds like the Vikings may indeed be looking for a competition instead of a backup.
MaroonBells wrote:
Kwesi just now in his presser...When asked if he wants JJ to be the starter in 2026.
“I want the #Vikings to achieve their goals… I think he has the character and ability to be the person to do that for this organization… it’s my job to bring that deep and competitive room that we’ve talked about to the Vikings...."
And later, "our conversation is about returning the room to a competitive, deep enough standpoint to get that play-style, that ability to win games for 17 plus games in a season”
Sounds like the Vikings may indeed be looking for a competition instead of a backup.
^^Thats my take-away as well...
OTOH, they have to position it like that for now -- unless they want someone on sitting on their couch waiting to play (ala Wentz in 25) as part of that QB room.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
StickierBuns wrote:
So I stand by my contention that KOC will NOT allow what happened to the position this year happen again: an improved JJM will take the helm or someone will beat him out and start (I find the latter a much longer shot). So when he mentions competitive, I think part of that is moving on from any thought that Brosmer is a QB2 type player. He's not IMO, I had some initial hopes but those were blown out of the water.
I think when the smoke clears and the competition (wink wink or real, we'll see) is over, McCarthy will be the starter for 2026.
Brosmer wasnt supposed to be a QB2, the brain trust thought Sam Howell was their QB2, Brosmer was a raw project that they thought could eventually be developed into a QB2. People need to remember that Brosmer likely got no work in the offseason to prepare him to start of even play much, I would guess it was more about messing with his mechanics or trying to speed up his process or whatever, he still shouldnt be part of the conversation other than he has shown that the game might not be to big for him at some point IMO.
all that said, who the fuck picked sam howell? I dont want him anywhere near this decision, and if they are going to go after the best players they can for that room, then its likely that they can find one that is more ready than JJM, maybe not a higher potential, and certainly not cheaper, but they can find that guy, but then if that is all we care about, why isnt Cousins still here? The point was to get cheaper, younger, and more mobile, even if we had to lose a few to get there.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
StickierBuns wrote:
So I stand by my contention that KOC will NOT allow what happened to the position this year happen again: an improved JJM will take the helm or someone will beat him out and start (I find the latter a much longer shot). So when he mentions competitive, I think part of that is moving on from any thought that Brosmer is a QB2 type player. He's not IMO, I had some initial hopes but those were blown out of the water.
I think when the smoke clears and the competition (wink wink or real, we'll see) is over, McCarthy will be the starter for 2026.
Yah, nfw they can let what happened at the position re-occur. Too many players that are high paid and in their primes.
Although, when you are down to your #3 qb, your just battling "really bad luck" at that point...
KOC always had a chubby for Richardson, and while he doesnt fit some competition scenarios neatly & cleanly? I do think he's a real possibility.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
^^Thats my take-away as well...
OTOH, they have to position it like that for now -- unless they want someone on sitting on their couch waiting to play (ala Wentz in 25) as part of that QB room.
That's exactly right. Whether it's a real competition or just an ostensible one, the Vikings have to couch it as a competition or else they will eliminate certain QBs from coming here. But I'm beginning to think it will be a real one.
StickierBuns wrote:
So I stand by my contention that KOC will NOT allow what happened to the position this year happen again: an improved JJM will take the helm or someone will beat him out and start (I find the latter a much longer shot). So when he mentions competitive, I think part of that is moving on from any thought that Brosmer is a QB2 type player. He's not IMO, I had some initial hopes but those were blown out of the water.
I think when the smoke clears and the competition (wink wink or real, we'll see) is over, McCarthy will be the starter for 2026.
I think Brosmer showed that he's not ready to be a QB2. But I also think late in the season he put together some competence that did show he's a pretty good developmental QB to have on the team as QB3.
It feels more and more like the Vikings will bring in serious, legitimate competition for JJ. Who that QB is and how capable he is of beating out JJ is going to be the most fascinating story of our offseason. It sure is never boring.
Read into this what you will, take away from it what you will...J
ust like listening to a politician speak, there are a thousand things the brain can go spin on lol!
======================================
Though Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell struck hopeful tones about quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s progress in their season-ending news conference Tuesday, Jan. 13, both said they expect the team to have competition at the position in 2026.
Injuries and inexperience made McCarthy’s first season as the starter a rocky one for the Vikings, as the 22-year-old completed 57.6% of his passes and threw for 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. McCarthy, who started 10 games and played 52.25% of the team’s offensive snaps, posted a 100.4 passer rating in his final four starts, though he left both of his final two games early because of a hairline fracture in his right hand.
“I absolutely want a competitive situation,” O’Connell said. “What that looks like with the reps, I think it’s all predicated on — obviously, J.J. is going to be a major, major emphasis for our staff and our team and me personally. We’ll figure out what that looks like as we navigate, you know, the early part of this offseason when it comes to managing the roster, and I know Kwesi and his staff will do a great job of that.”
Asked whether he wants McCarthy to be the starter in 2026, Adofo-Mensah said: “I want the Vikings to achieve our goals. And I think one of those goals is to make playoff runs. I think he has the character and ability to be the person to do that. If I say that in 2026, that kind of binds us into a certain area.
“The way we’ve set this team up, we built this core like we’ve always talked about, give ourselves multiple shots at it, because you never know when there’s going to be a year where the field feels a little bit wide open and you can make that run. Whether it’s this year or next year isn’t really my immediate reflection. It’s my job to really bring that deep competitive group that we’ve talked about.”
The Vikings tried to re-sign Daniel Jones last March after adding him to their practice squad for the final months of the 2024 season, and sources have said the team offered more money to Jones than did Indianapolis, which signed him to a one-year, $14 million deal. Jones believed he had a better chance to win the Colts’ starting job over Anthony Richardson than he did to claim the Vikings’ starting job from McCarthy. The Vikings traded for Sam Howell during the NFL draft, then signed Carson Wentz in late August after an ineffective camp from Howell.
Adofo-Mensah didn’t agree with the notion the Vikings were overconfident Jones would return, though he said the team thought Jones’ time on the practice squad would impact his decision. But, Adofo-Mensah said, “free agents are free for a reason, and they’re allowed to vet all their options. We could have executed better around that.”
The Vikings need to clear more than $40 million in cap space before the start of free agency in March, which could affect how aggressive they will be on the quarterback market. But QBs might be inclined to view the Vikings’ job more favorably if they think they have a chance to win a competition.
“My conversations with agents are typically focused on that,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We’re going to be honest, as we always are. We’re very transparent in our free agency conversations. We want to be able to play a certain style over 17-plus games, and we’re going to create a competitive environment.”
The Vikings will continue to develop McCarthy, who will train with other QBs in Southern California this offseason before returning to Minnesota in April. He should be able to get more work in this year after recovering from his hand injury than he did last year after returning from knee surgery.
McCarthy, O’Connell said Tuesday, “knows the things he’s going to work on. He knows the things he needs to be a little more consistent at.”
Adofo-Mensah said the Vikings are also talking with the quarterback, who was injured multiple times on plays outside the pocket, about how to balance his on-field tenacity with the need to keep himself healthy.
“Availability is a skill, as they say,” Adofo-Mensah said. “You’re talking about a player who’s incredibly tough, didn’t miss games in college, and that was one of the things we talked about when we went to the people at Michigan. They told us the things he fought through, and different things like that. And that’s really not different than the player we’ve gotten here.
And so ultimately, that is something that we’re mindful of, given just how it’s happened. We can control though, how we get him right from a mechanical standpoint, from a decision-making standpoint, to protect himself. But that mindset — me versus them, I’m going to get this last yard — that’s also what the great ones have.
So for me to sit here, or anybody else to tell him to be a different version of himself, it’s a delicate balance.
“I know that he wants it more than anybody I’ve ever been around, and he’s got an offseason where he’s going to have time to not rehab an injury. And so we’re excited to see what development he takes and the steps he takes towards being available for us.”
Were the Vikings too optimistic in thinking McCarthy could develop on the fly while leading a playoff push for a veteran team coming off a 14-3 season? Adofo-Mensah said Jan. 13 they were aware McCarthy would face difficulty in his first year and focused on surrounding the No. 10 overall pick in 2024 with veterans who could help him withstand them.
Adofo-Mensah acknowledged the fact that starting McCarthy, whose 713 passes at Michigan were fewer than any of the six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2024 draft, required some projection.
“In a perfect world, you would have had three years of watching him play in the NFL,” Adofo-Mensah said. “That’s not how this works, and sometimes you have to go on incomplete information. ... You saw the improvement at the end. You saw the flash of the player we thought he could be. So in that sense, you know, I can’t say that we were overconfident. Maybe that timing didn’t work out with other aspects of our team, whether that be injuries or different things like that.
But ultimately, we’re comfortable with where we are and we’re excited about where he can go.”
Strib
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
JimmyinSD wrote:
All that said, who the fuck picked sam howell? I dont want him anywhere near this decision, and if they are going to go after the best players they can for that room, then its likely that they can find one that is more ready than JJM.
This has been my contention all year because it had to be the "whisperer." OConnell is no more a quarterback whisperer than Brad Childress was. He needs a certain skillset at quarterback for his offense to be successful and McCarthy does not appear to be a fit in what he wants to do offensively. When you look at the quarterback decisions and how that room was made up, it's got OConnell written all over it.
- The drafting of McCarthy. You have to firmly believe the organization relied heavily on OConnell when making that decision
- The Sam Howell debacle. Does anybody really believe Kwesi just went out and blindly made a move for a quarterback without OConnell giving the ok first?
- Wentz was almost killed trying to run the KOC "chuck and duck" offense.
-Brosmer looked a lot like McCarthy when he played, maybe worse.
Kevin OConnell isn't the guy everybody thinks he is when it comes to offense and identifying and developing quarterbacks and the proof is in the pudding.
Edit Post (mod action — author will see a notice)
Warn Poster
Suspend User (3 days)
The user will be suspended for 3 days and will receive an email with the reason and information about how to appeal.