The Minnesota Vikings seem to have found both their long-term quarterback and projected 2025 starter in second-year player J.J. McCarthy. However, behind him, the depth chart is thin—Brett Rypien is currently the only backup, and that’s expected to change soon. The Vikings will likely bring in at least one more quarterback before training camp, and possibly two, as most teams carry four QBs heading into the preseason.
The top priority is expected to be a veteran quarterback who can not only step in if needed but also mentor McCarthy as he adjusts to his first full NFL season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kirk Cousins—a former Vikings starter now with the Atlanta Falcons—could be a candidate for that role.
Atlanta reportedly wants to trade Cousins and has asked any interested team to take on $20 million of the $37.5 million in guaranteed money left on his $180 million contract. So far, no team has agreed to that price tag, and most around the league don’t expect anyone to.
Still, there’s speculation that a team like the Vikings or Steelers might agree to take on about $10 million, depending on the terms. The more money a team agrees to pay, the less draft capital it may need to offer in return—and vice versa. With only four picks in the upcoming draft, Minnesota might be better positioned than Pittsburgh to make a deal by simply covering more of Cousins’ salary, according to Schefter’s logic.
One complication is that Cousins holds a no-trade clause, giving him control over where he ends up. At 37 years old, he’s believed to be looking for a legitimate opportunity to start—something that may not happen in Minnesota unless McCarthy struggles in camp or suffers another injury like the one that wiped out his rookie season.
In short, while the Vikings are confident in McCarthy, they’re expected to bring in more depth at quarterback—and a Cousins reunion isn’t out of the question, depending on finances, draft picks, and the veteran’s own priorities.
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