The Minnesota Vikings are heading into a pivotal offseason, and all eyes are on the quarterback room. After a 2025 campaign that raised more questions than answers, the front office appears to be exploring ways to bolster the position - not by replacing J.J. McCarthy outright, but by bringing in serious competition.
McCarthy, Minnesota’s top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, showed occasional flashes of why the Vikings bet big on him. But flashes don’t win divisions, and his rookie season - technically his first full year on the field - was marred by injuries and inconsistent play. At times, he looked like a young quarterback trying to process the game at warp speed, and the results were predictably uneven.
Still, the Vikings aren’t expected to move on from McCarthy after just two seasons. That kind of investment comes with patience.
But patience doesn’t mean passivity. According to reports, Minnesota is eyeing two intriguing names to challenge McCarthy in 2026: Mac Jones and Anthony Richardson.
Both are former first-round picks. Both have had their ups and downs. And both could be available via trade.
Let’s start with Jones. Now with the San Francisco 49ers, he stepped in for Brock Purdy in 2025 and held his own, going 5-3 as a starter with 13 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Those aren’t MVP numbers, but in a league where reliable quarterback play is at a premium, they’re more than serviceable. Jones showed he can still manage an offense, make smart throws, and keep a team competitive - traits that would be welcomed in Minnesota, especially if McCarthy continues to struggle with health or development.
Then there’s Anthony Richardson, the dynamic but still-untapped talent out of Florida. His time with the Indianapolis Colts appears to be nearing an end as the team shifts its focus to Daniel Jones - even after the veteran tore his Achilles in Week 14.
For Richardson, it’s been a frustrating stretch of injuries and inconsistency, but the raw tools are still there: size, speed, arm strength. He’s the kind of quarterback who could thrive in the right system, with the right coaching and a little bit of patience.
Minnesota could be that landing spot. Richardson wouldn’t walk in as the presumed starter, but he’d push McCarthy in OTAs and training camp, giving the Vikings a high-upside insurance policy and a legitimate QB competition - something this team hasn’t truly had in a while.
Of course, acquiring either Jones or Richardson would require a trade. Both are under contract - Jones in San Francisco, Richardson in Indianapolis - but neither appears locked into long-term plans with their current teams. That opens the door for Minnesota to make a move.
The bottom line? The Vikings are in the market for a quarterback.
Not necessarily a new face of the franchise, but someone who can raise the floor - and maybe even the ceiling - of the position group. Whether it’s Jones’ steadiness or Richardson’s untapped potential, Minnesota seems ready to bring in a challenger for McCarthy.
And with the NFC North heating up, standing pat isn’t an option. The Vikings know it. Now we wait to see who they bring into the fold.