The Vikings have taken a cautious approach to adding a veteran quarterback to support J.J. McCarthy. After three weeks of free agency and plenty of Aaron Rodgers rumors, the team still only has McCarthy and former practice squad player Brett Rypien on the roster at quarterback.
It appears they won’t be adding a quarterback anytime soon, and there’s a strategic reason behind it. The Vikings are carefully considering the NFL’s compensatory pick system, which awards extra draft picks if a team loses more qualifying free agents than it signs.
Currently, the Vikings stand to receive two compensatory picks in the 2026 draft. If they sign a free agent for over $4 million per year before next month’s draft, they risk forfeiting one of those picks. However, by waiting until the Monday following the draft (April 28), they can sign players without affecting the compensatory pick formula.
“We’re evaluating all our options,” said GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah when asked about adding a quarterback. “There are still a lot of good players available, but we’re trying to balance improving the team while being mindful of our compensatory pick situation.”
While the Vikings could explore a trade for a quarterback, they’re unlikely to sign someone like Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz, or Drew Lock to a backup contract (around $4-5 million for one year) until at least a month from now. This delay also applies to other positions, such as cornerback. Any significant free agent signings this offseason will likely be postponed until after the draft.
Eventually, the Vikings will add a quarterback, and while the possibility of revisiting talks with Rodgers isn’t entirely off the table, it seems highly unlikely, especially if he doesn’t land with the Steelers. “Our job is to create a quarterback room that’s prepared to play and offer insurance if needed,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We’re looking at all options to ensure we’re setting ourselves up for success.”
Copyright © 2025 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes
Leave a Reply