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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Minnesota Vikings finished the regular season 9–8 and third in the NFC North, showing flashes under head coach Kevin O’Connell but ultimately missing the postseason, a result that left the front office with lingering questions about the roster’s structure heading into 2026.
Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy appeared in 10 games during the 2025 season, totaling 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while posting a 72.6 passer rating, the fifth-worst mark among qualified NFL quarterbacks.
Amid growing speculation that the organization could explore alternative options at quarterback in 2026, O’Connell told reporters on Tuesday that the Vikings will prioritize adding depth and competition to the quarterback room during the upcoming offseason.
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"Ultimately, I think in the quarterback room, it's about having just the deepest, [most] talented room you possibly can, every single year," O'Connell said. "What that looks like at a pretty impactful position on your salary cap, when you're able to possibly plan for your depth chart looking in a way where you can be competitive no matter what."
"I think there has to be (competition at quarterback)," O'Connell added. "I think that's what's gonna make everybody better in that room. It's gonna be what makes our entire offense thrive through that competition."
McCarthy was a high-profile Michigan starter who went 27–1 as the Wolverines’ quarterback, producing one of the best winning percentages in modern college football history.
His record ranks among the top marks ever by a starting quarterback at the FBS level and is widely regarded as the best by any major college quarterback since the early 1970s.
Across three seasons with the program, including two as the full-time starter, McCarthy totaled 6,226 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns.
His resume was highlighted by a dominant 2023 campaign, during which he threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and completed 71.6% of his passes while leading Michigan to an undefeated 15–0 season and a national championship.
That performance prompted the Vikings to trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft to select McCarthy 10th overall, making him the fifth quarterback taken behind Caleb Williams (No. 1, Bears), Jayden Daniels (No. 2, Commanders), Drake Maye (No. 3, Patriots), and Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8, Falcons).
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Despite the significant draft investment, Minnesota added veteran Sam Darnold as insurance, a move that proved necessary after McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during practice before the 2024 season.
The injury sidelined McCarthy for the year and allowed Darnold to start all 17 games.
In his lone season with the Vikings, Darnold delivered the most productive campaign of his career, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while posting a 102.5 passer rating, guiding Minnesota to a 14–3 record and a playoff berth.
That performance has since loomed large.
In contrast to McCarthy’s far less productive 2025 season, Minnesota’s decision to commit to the former Michigan quarterback and allow Darnold to depart in free agency has drawn criticism from analysts and fans alike.
Darnold went on to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, where he followed up with another strong 2025 season while leading a top-seeded team that now sits two wins away from a Super Bowl appearance.
With the Vikings now appearing poised to reassess the position, several veteran quarterbacks have been mentioned as potential offseason targets, including Marcus Mariota, Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Kenny Pickett, and former franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins.
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