Regardless of how you felt about J.J. McCarthy’s performance this season, the Vikings are going to be in the market for another quarterback this offseason. It could be some veteran competition with or a huge splash, but there’s no doubt that the quarterback room will feature more than just McCarthy and Max Brosmer. There are a few intriguing options, so I decided to take a look at some of the quarterbacks that the Vikings could target while also listing some of the pros and cons that come with signing them.
Mac Jones
This has been a name floated by quite a few reporters, especially during the middle of the season when Mac Jones filled in for Brock Purdy on the 49ers. In 11 games played, Jones had one of the best seasons of his career with 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions. Jones was a former first-round pick, and similarly to Sam Darnold, he seems to have hit his stride with the 49ers. Jones would be a cheap option, but he would require some draft capital as he’s still signed to San Francisco for the 2026 season. Considering the following names, Jones seems like one of the stronger options as a 4th round pick could potentially get the Vikings a 27-year-old to push McCarthy in camp and maybe even take a leap to starter. Of course, a lot of dominoes need to fall for that to happen, including the 49ers even being willing to deal Jones in the first place. Mac Jones is certainly a name to watch this offseason for the Vikings.
Marcus Mariota
The good news about Marcus Mariota is that he’s a free agent this offseason, meaning the Vikings wouldn’t have to give up a draft pick to get him. He’s also 32, meaning he’d be a cheap solution to the backup quarterback position. Realistically, however, Mariota is not a quarterback who will push J.J. McCarthy at camp. Despite being the featured guy at Tennessee when he first came into the league, Mariota has settled into his role as a perennial experienced backup. This isn’t necessarily a con, as some might argue that this stability is exactly what the Vikings need. Someone who can guide McCarthy and be a steady presence in the QB room would definitely help Minnesota out next season. Still, Mariota isn’t a quarterback who will win you many games if McCarthy were to miss time. He’s not the worst choice, but it’d be hard to be that excited if he were the pick for the Vikings.
Geno Smith
Speaking of aging quarterbacks who are transitioning to the backup position, Geno Smith may be available from the Raiders, who are most certainly going to be drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza this year. Geno Smith is 35 and still on contract for two more years, making him one of my least favorite choices. He had an abysmal season on a bad Raiders team, which brings his overall viability as a backup quarterback into question. Additionally, J.J. McCarthy likely wouldn’t get much competition from the veteran Smith. Obviously, Geno could turn it around with a change of scenery, but as it stands, he’s a player that the Vikings should avoid giving up capital to acquire. Maybe if he was cut, the situation would be different.
Tua Tagovailoa
Although he’s not a free agent until 2029, Tua Tagovailoa’s time in Miami may be reaching its end. He was benched late last season for Quinn Ewers and hasn’t managed to replicate any of the success that he had earlier in his career. Tua’s only 27, and a splash trade for him would come with high expectations. Even if he gets cut, Tua isn’t going to be cheap, so the Vikings would have to express a certain level of commitment to actually acquire him. Despite his recent struggles, Tua is a talented player who would certainly push McCarthy for the starting position. The question of ceiling would definitely loom, but for the right price, Tua would definitely make for an intriguing storyline this offseason.
Malik Willis
The 26-year-old backup for the Packers made a name for himself this season in the several games he started during Jordan Love’s injury. Malik Willis showed remarkable poise as a backup with a 93.1 QBR in four starts. It would be difficult to project his outlook across a 17-game schedule, but poise and athleticism can’t be taught, and those are definitely Willis’ biggest strengths. He played himself into some extra money, but he is a free agent this offseason, so the Vikings could make a move to acquire the young signal-caller. As far as viable starters go, Willis is one of the better options available with a higher ceiling than quarterbacks like Geno Smith or Marcus Mariota. My only con for Willis would be the limited sample size we have for him. Aside from that, I think he’s one of the stronger options.
Joe Burrow
If the Vikings are feeling dangerous, they could give Cincinnati a call for Joe Burrow. This feels like an unlikely one, but it’s been discussed ad nauseam on social media, so it is worth addressing. Burrow would come with a hefty price, perhaps even involving J.J. McCarthy being sent to the Bengals. Burrow’s cap hit is around $47 million this year, so there would have to be some cap-saving magic for the Vikings to be able to afford his contract. There would be no other free agent acquisitions, so it would be Burrow, some draft picks (unless they’re traded away), and the current Vikings roster. Burrow would obviously be a huge upgrade, but there are some cons that might hinder the team’s ability to win a Super Bowl. For one, Joe Burrow has acquired an injury-prone label, missing numerous games in his first several seasons in the NFL. While the Vikings were one game out of the playoffs this season, it may be premature to call this a Super Bowl roster with the right quarterback. There are still some holes in the secondary and offensive line that need to be filled, and it will be difficult to fill them without draft picks or cap space. All that said, if the Vikings can get Joe Burrow, they need to get Joe Burrow. At the same time, they’ll need to have a plan in place to keep the team competitive should Burrow get injured or other positions on the team weaken as a result of the cap situation.
Who do you want the Vikings to get at the quarterback position this season? There are plenty more options than the ones I laid out, but these were just some of the most intriguing to me. Regardless of which direction the Vikings go, there will be plenty to discuss and speculate over throughout the offseason as the Vikings prepare for free agency and the NFL Draft.
