The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2026 offseason with one question looming larger than the rest: Who’s going to be under center when Week 1 rolls around? After a 2025 campaign that fell short of expectations, the quarterback position is once again front and center in Minnesota’s plans-and opinions on what the team should do are flying in from all directions.
One of the strongest takes came from a voice that carries serious weight in Vikings circles: Hall of Fame defensive lineman John Randle. The Vikings legend made it clear he’s not on board with the idea of bringing back Kirk Cousins, who could be available if the Atlanta Falcons decide to move on this offseason.
“We’ve been down that road before,” Randle said during an appearance on the Purple Daily podcast. “No.
We want to move on from you… You have what, maybe one playoff game? I want more.”
That’s a blunt assessment, but it’s hard to argue with the underlying frustration. Cousins, while productive in the regular season, has only one playoff win to his name-a Wild Card victory over the Saints back in 2019. And in five postseason appearances, that lone win stands as the high-water mark.
Randle also touched on the potential of younger quarterbacks like J.J. McCarthy, signaling that the franchise may be better served looking toward the future rather than revisiting the past.
And it’s not just Cousins that Randle has reservations about. He also threw cold water on the idea of Derek Carr joining the Vikings.
Carr, who hasn't played since retiring, has just one playoff appearance under his belt-a Wild Card loss to the Bengals in the 2021 season. If he were to come out of retirement, Minnesota might be an intriguing landing spot, but Randle doesn’t see him as the answer either.
From a roster-building standpoint, the Vikings have a lot to figure out. They’re not exactly flush with cap space, and there are several holes to patch up across the depth chart.
But make no mistake: this is still a highly attractive destination for a quarterback. With talent on both sides of the ball and a fan base hungry for postseason success, the right signal-caller could elevate this team in a hurry.
Whether that quarterback is a veteran like Cousins or Carr, or a younger option with upside, remains to be seen. But if you ask one of the franchise’s all-time greats, it’s time to turn the page-and aim higher.