Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray
J.J. McCarthy
Carson Wentz
Max Brosmer
No Vikings position group has been more transformed this offseason than the quarterbacks. There’s a reason for that. Since Kevin O’Connell was hired as the head coach in 2022, the Vikings were 27-7 in the two seasons with, at least, average quarterback play. In the two seasons in which injuries wiped out any hope of quarterback consistency, the Vikings were 16-18. In 2023, the Vikings played four quarterbacks. Josh Dobbs was signed just days before he was forced to play in a game. Late-round rookie Jaren Hall wasn’t close to being ready to play in an NFL game and he started two of them. In 2025, the Vikings played three quarterbacks. Two had never taken an NFL snap before the season. Like Hall, undrafted Max Brosmer wasn’t ready for an NFL game and he started two and played in seven. The Vikings don’t want a repeat of the quarterback disasters of 2023 and 2025. At the Scouting Combine, both O’Connell and interim general manager Rob Brzezinski stressed the need for a deep and capable quarterback room. Hopefully, the Vikings never again have the quarterback injuries of those two seasons. If a third quarterback is needed in 2026, there must be a third quarterback that can confidently come in and win a game, or more. No more rookies not ready for an NFL regular season game. No more desperate, in-season trades.
Overall, the Vikings have not been active in free agency. They have been active in the quarterback market with the signing of Kyler Murray and re-signing of Carson Wentz. The Arizona Cardinals are paying nearly $40 million of Murray’s 2026 salary. That generosity gave the Vikings the opportunity to sign Murray for a league-minimum $1.3 million. It’s the league’s best bargain. As Kevin O’Connell said after the signing, he doesn’t have to name a starting quarterback in March. That’s true. There will be a competition. Despite that competition, the easy assumption is that Murray will be the starter in September. Many talking heads have speculated that the signing of Murray and re-signing of Wentz will spark the end of J.J McCarthy’s short time in Minnesota. It’s a knee-jerk, idiotic take. McCarthy is the only quarterback on the roster signed beyond 2026. The Vikings liked him enough in the 2024 NFL Draft to trade up a spot to secure his selection with the 10th pick. His ten starts last year had more bright than shaky moments. Most of his shaky moments followed injuries. He had three injuries that caused him to miss games. A curious thing about those injuries was that he continued to play after each. Five of his seven interceptions came while he continued to player injured. In that sense, he and the coaches could’ve been smarter last year. I don’t see Murray or Wentz on the roster as a threat to McCarthy’s present or future time in Minnesota. The signings of Murray and Wentz were simply to give the Vikings the best possible quarterback options this season. Anything after that is a question for next season.
After a season peppered with problems at football’s most important position, the Vikings decided that they had to build a strong quarterback room. It’s only March and it’s only on paper but it looks like the Vikings can now confidently go three-deep at quarterback.
Next up: Vikings Running Backs
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