Minnesota Vikings eye QB competition: Which free agents could push J.J. McCarthy?

After a season defined by instability at the most important position on the roster, the Minnesota Vikings' head coach Kevin O’Connell is looking to add quarterback options heading into the 2026 season.

"Ultimately, I think in the quarterback room, it's about having just the deepest, [most] talented room you possibly can," he told reporters this week.

Here, I break down what O'Connell's remarks mean for former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy and provide four options in free agency who could challenge for a starting role.

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Are McCarthy's days done?

When McCarthy was drafted in 2024, the Minnesota Vikings believed they had their quarterback for the future. As a National Champion in 2023, he appeared to have all the tools needed to develop into a high-end starter.

Then disaster struck when the tenth overall pick suffered a knee injury in his pre-season debut and missed his entire rookie season.

As unfortunate as that injury was for the player, it was a blessing in disguise for veteran QB Sam Darnold, who enjoyed a career renaissance by leading the team to a 14-3 record and a postseason berth.

Darnold was allowed to leave in free agency on the basis that McCarthy would step into the starting role. However, after starting only 10 games in 2026, during which he threw for 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, the jury is still out on his future.

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O'Connell's latest comments, which can be interpreted as an indictment of McCarthy's performance, suggest patience is wearing thin.

However, the fact of the matter is that McCarthy is still only 22, relatively inexperienced, and there were games this year where his potential really shone through. 

The 31-0 win against the Washington Commanders and the 16-13 road victory against the Dallas Cowboys were his standout games, during which he threw for a combined 413 yards, five touchdowns, and only one interception.

The test facing McCarthy is how he handles this situation. Does he sulk, perhaps disheartened at the prospect of additional competition? Or does he rise to the challenge, prove he has the resilience, talent and ability to stay healthy, and come out firing in his third year?

Only time will tell.

A quick note on the other Vikings' QBs on the roster

By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Something would have to go drastically wrong for Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer to start Week 1 of the 2026 season.

Whilst Wentz turned back the clock at times this year, it would be foolish of the Vikings to go into next season with a starting QB who is injury-prone and in decline.

Brosmer started two games and made cameos in four others, and frankly, looked out of his depth. He didn't throw a touchdown, managed only 328 passing yards, and threw four interceptions.

There's a chance neither could be on the roster come the start of next season.

Limited cap room could limit free agent options

The Vikings are somewhat limited in who they can bring in, as they are currently $36,670,855 over the 2026 cap limit.

Any additions to the roster will require cap gymnastics, including restructuring and cutting contracts.

Who are the potential free agent QBs on the market?

Marcus Mariota

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Weighing up his experience and the cost of acquiring him compared to others, Mariota is one of the best options for the Vikings. He filled in admirably for the Washington Commanders when Jayden Daniels missed time due to injury. 

In ten games, whether off the bench or as a starter, he completed 1,695 passing yards, throwing 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Even at 32, he has the mobility and awareness to pick up extra yards and escape pressure when the pocket collapses.

Joe Flacco

Flacco has been bouncing around since 2019, calling six different teams home since he joined the New York Jets following a ten-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens.

His age is a concern - he turns 41 this week - but Flacco would be cheaper than every option listed here and would bring valuable experience to the table, having won a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP with the Ravens in 2012.

If he's not planning to retire this off-season and is looking for a new home, Flacco could find his way to the NFC for the first time in his career and compete for a job in Minnesota.

Aaron Rodgers

(Getty Images)

How sweet would it be if Rodgers completed the journey of following in the footsteps of his Packers' predecessor, Brett Favre, and retired after a season with the Vikings, forever enraging the city of Green Bay and fanbase that adored him for so many years?

Rodgers' list of achievements speaks for itself. He has won the MVP four times, the Super Bowl with the Packers in 2010, and has been to four NFC Championship games. 

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This season, Rodgers took the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs with a 10-7 record, and despite being flattened by an unstoppable Houston Texans defense in the Wild Card round, he can look back on this season with pride.

At 42, he threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, proving he still has what it takes to lead an offense.

Despite being the most expensive of the options listed, he's by far the most talented, has the best resume, and would not only mentor McCarthy but also elevate the rest of the Vikings' offense to new heights.

Malik Willis

The 26-year-old is perhaps the most intriguing long-term option after proving he can be so much more than the Green Bay Packers backup. However, he won't come cheap, with rumours suggesting he wants $50,000,000 per year.

That price tag would be a major hurdle for a Vikings’ franchise with so many other roster needs, but it takes only one team to believe, and even with their tight cap situation, we cannot rule Minnesota out of the running.

Of all the options listed here, Willis still has his best years ahead of him, and if O'Connell wants a competitive quarterback room, this is one - albeit very expensive - way to achieve his goal.

The 86th pick from the 2022 draft started one game this season in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Despite the Packers losing 41-24, Willis arguably had the best game of his career, throwing for 288 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

My prediction on how this plays out

McCarthy will most likely be Minnesota's starting quarterback in Week 1 of next season, with an older player such as Joe Flacco or Marcus Mariota backing him up.

But if McCarthy doesn't grasp the opportunity with both hands and falters again down the stretch, not only will he lose his handle on the starting job, but his reputation will be severely dented for years to come.