The Minnesota Vikings have delayed making a move for a backup quarterback behind expected 2025 starter J.J. McCarthy, but that wait likely won’t last much longer.
Speaking just three days before the NFL Draft on Monday, April 21, head coach Kevin O’Connell shared insights into the team’s ongoing search for another QB.
“We’ve taken our time and looked at multiple avenues to fill that spot,” O’Connell told Kevin Seifert of ESPN. “Whether it’s through trades, free agency, or the draft, we’re evaluating what kind of player we want to complete that quarterback room—especially with J.J. and Brett [Rypien] already in the building. We’ll finalize it soon, but we still want to keep the competition alive.”
As of now, only McCarthy and Rypien occupy the Vikings’ QB room, which is unusually thin. Like most teams, Minnesota is expected to carry four quarterbacks into the summer, so the team is likely to bring in two more players. One may come from the pool of undrafted free agents or young prospects seeking a fresh start—though such players often land on the practice squad once the regular season begins.
Kevin O’Connell
Still, the Vikings are expected to prioritize adding a veteran quarterback who brings legitimate experience to the table. That’s especially important considering McCarthy’s health history—he missed the entire 2024 season after a serious knee injury in August, which required two surgeries to repair.
Earlier this offseason, the Vikings had a shot at signing Aaron Rodgers, who remains a free agent. While that door may still be open, the team reportedly passed on him once already. League insiders believe that Rodgers still wants a chance to start, and the Vikings are wary of creating unnecessary pressure for McCarthy by placing a future Hall of Famer right behind him on the depth chart.
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