The only QB scenario we should be talking about

[purplefaithful]

Doubling down on JJM is right if thats what their gut say.

If Russini is spot on, it'll be a Dalton, Flacco type...Experienced, a good team player and can win a game if need be - but doesnt have to start to be happy.

I dont think Carr is that guy though - he'll want to start.

[StickierBuns]

Doubling down on JJM is right if thats what their gut say.

Exactly. That's all I'm really saying. Its all you can do, go with your gut. The upside with JJ is massive and KOC knows this. We've already seen some throws from him that not many other starting QBs make. The Retread Factory won't get you close to the same zip code, the team ideally wants a long term franchise QB. Invest some time. They weathered the storm with JJ last year, this is the year they see land on the horizon.

[ArizonaViking]

Vikings Plan for J.J. McCarthy's Development Includes Healthy Offseason & Competitive Room
Feb 25, 2026 at 03:44 PM
Author Image
Craig Peters
Senior Editor


INDIANAPOLIS — The past 33 years in the NFL and 27 with the Vikings have shaped Rob Brzezinski's philosophy that the business is "about the people and an alignment."

He explained that Tuesday at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine when asked during a session with Twin Cities media members about who will be Minnesota's ultimate decision maker during free agency and the draft.

"K.O. (Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell) and I are going to work very, very closely together to make sure that the personnel staff and the coaching staff are aligned, and that we're just going to stack good decisions here in this time period," Brzezinski said. "We're not going to try to manufacture anything that's not there. We're going to do what's in the best interest of the Minnesota Vikings in 2026 and beyond. And I just feel very, very confident about my relationship with K.O. and in the relationships in the building overall."

The quarterback position is again central to Minnesota's offseason as the team prepares for free agency, which opens March 11, and the draft (April 23-25).

The continued development of J.J. McCarthy and an effort to add competition and depth will be incredibly important.

O'Connell spoke with Paul Allen and Pete Bercich during an interview that aired on KFAN and Vikings.com Wednesday and noted McCarthy is taking advantage of being healthy this offseason, participating in workouts with private quarterbacks coach John Beck, a 2007 second-round pick of the Dolphins.

"He's going to have a healthy offseason, which with his journey up until this point, he's gotten 10 starts where we've been able to see a lot of the things that we really, really liked about J.J. when we drafted him," O'Connell said. "We've seen some growth, some of that development over time, but we're still talking about quite a few opportunities of that growth and development phase [that have been] missed.

"He knows this is a big offseason for him. He didn't need anybody to tell him that. He certainly didn't need me to tell him that, but what I've really enjoyed about our conversations early on is he is hungry," O'Connell added. "He's out in California right now working with John Beck and some of the guys that he worked with pre-draft, very detailed in what he wanted to decompress after the season and go through layer by layer: 'What do I need to individually work on to make sure I come back ready to roll in April?' He's working on those things.

"His continued growth in our offense and schemes will be a natural thing. He's a really smart player. I think he's going to be able to use a lot of that experience of those 10 games in the journey so far to get himself in position to have the best 2026 he can. We've talked about it, we want him to be in a competitive situation because of some of that time lost," O'Connell added. "We've really got to push the gas pedal down and not replace development and coaching and teaching with anything but really enhance it with a really competitive situation that I think our whole team will benefit from. [We're] pretty early in that process, but I'm excited about it."

Brzezinski said QB is "the most important position on our team" and compared the focus on competition to every other position on the roster.

"We have a ton of confidence in J.J. McCarthy. He's been through a lot of adversity, and guess what? This is a really, really hard job with a lot of pressure," Brzezinski said. "I think even in our organization and with our history, everybody's yearning for that young franchise quarterback."

Brzezinski said he believes some criticism of McCarthy has been excessive.

"He is a fabulous person, he cares, he works really hard, he wants to be successful and he wants to win," Brzezinski said.

As to what the Vikings could do within the room, a return of veteran Carson Wentz, who is scheduled to become a free agent, has not been ruled out.

"I think we were incredibly fortunate to have Carson join our team when he did last year," O'Connell said. "You look back at some of the things Carson did when he stepped in for J.J, Carson Wentz showed up about five days before the season started. He was not a part of our offseason program, not a part of the greater sum of training camp, and for him to come in the way he did and be ready to step in the way he did … plays a phenomenal game against Cincinnati, and that is a veteran quarterback that has done a lot of things at a high level throughout his career. He absolutely is a guy that made our quarterbacks room better, even with our late arrival and is definitely somebody that we're thinking about."

If the Vikings don't return the 33-year-old with 99 career regular-season starts, then they could sign another free agent (either one with a contract scheduled to expire or one who is released) or execute a trade.

"I don't think we're ruling anything out. I mean, honestly, we're exploring all possibilities. And what we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective," Brzezinski said. "A lot of this has been J.J. [having some unfortunate scenarios], with some of the injuries and things that he's dealt with, but we're going to explore every opportunity, and I don't think there's anything specifically we're looking for. Again, we can't manufacture anything that's not there. So number one, what are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? All those things. There's just a lot of factors that go into it."

[pattersaur]

Exactly. That's all I'm really saying. Its all you can do, go with your gut. The upside with JJ is massive and KOC knows this. We've already seen some throws from him that not many other starting QBs make. The Retread Factory won't get you close to the same zip code. They weathered the storm with JJ last year, this is the year they see land on the horizon.

Imagine we bring in Cousins and he starts over McCarthy. There's virtually no world where it's not a total circus by like, week 3. The first time Kirk checks it down late in a game, 50% of fans will be sharing clips on X of McCarthy-to-Nailor on 4th down from last year and the media vultures will be circling. And people think THAT is how O'Connell is gonna save his job? Good luck...

We need either a clear upgrade at QB or a backup to JJM. Open competition is courting disaster.

[Vikesrock]

Exactly. That's all I'm really saying. Its all you can do, go with your gut. The upside with JJ is massive and KOC knows this. We've already seen some throws from him that not many other starting QBs make. The Retread Factory won't get you close to the same zip code, the team ideally wants a long term franchise QB. Invest some time. They weathered the storm with JJ last year, this is the year they see land on the horizon.

YES!  This!  And I know we all want JJ to work out, but if he doesn't be ready to restart in 2027.  I know others have said bring in someone with a future here.  But why?  Any of the available options I don't see much hope in winning a Super Bowl (Although you could have knocked me over with a feather if you told me Sam Darnold would be a Super Bowl champion a year later after the Vikings/Rams playoff game.)  Tank for Manning if JJM is not going to be the guy?  We already screwed this up once in 2012 when we could have had Andrew Luck!

[FLVike]

Here's the way I see it. After KAM was let go, KOC was told Superbowl or bust by the owners. KOC knows he needs to get to the Superbowl this coming season or he's gone. So, he has weighed his options and is either going to go after a veteran or a very good back up. I wouldn't be surprised at any QB he chooses. 
Just my opinion.

[MaroonBells]

Doubling down on JJM is right if thats what their gut say.

If Russini is spot on, it'll be a Dalton, Flacco type...Experienced, a good team player and can win a game if need be - but doesnt have to start to be happy.

I dont think Carr is that guy though - he'll want to start.

Agree. Don't think Carr comes out of retirement to hold a clipboard. 

If we eliminate all the guys who would likely want to come in as the starter (Carr, Murray, Jones, Willis, Rodgers, Cousins), we're kind of left with a short list. I'm no big fan of Geno Smith, but in some ways he makes a lot of sense. 

After his year in Vegas, he's in no position to demand a starting job. He spent half his career as a backup anyway. What's more, I would see a Geno and JJ competition as a fairly even one with no obvious winner. How "real" the competition is might be a bigger factor than we think...for BOTH QBs. 

Geno would also be a QB perfectly capable of running this offense and winning games if he were to win the competition, or if JJ were to go down. He's also just a couple years removed from consecutive Pro Bowl-level seasons, so there's a degree of upside with him as well.

[Montana Tom]

Yeah, 'Ope.
The draft is a crapshoot in the best of times.

[pattersaur]

Here's the way I see it. After KAM was let go, KOC was told Superbowl or bust by the owners. KOC knows he needs to get to the Superbowl this coming season or he's gone. So, he has weighed his options and is either going to go after a veteran or a very good back up. I wouldn't be surprised at any QB he chooses. 
Just my opinion.

We haven't won one in 75 years but now it's SB or bust this season? Cmon. I agree it's a big year for KO but I think as long as the train stays somewhat on the tracks, the most likely outcome is he's our coach again in 2027.

[StickierBuns]

VikingzFanPage
@vikingzfanpage
·
6m
There is “mutual interest” between the #Vikings and #Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who was just granted permission to seek a trade, per
@CameronWolfe
.
Minnesota is a team to keep an eye on.

trey wingo
@wingoz
·
6m
From 4th overall to likely traded before his 4th season….