The Minnesota Vikings are yet again facing uncertainty at the quarterback position.
2024 first-round selection J.J. McCarthy hasn’t quite panned out as expected by the organization. At least, not yet. Injuries have been the main culprit, as the 22-year-old has only been active for 10 out of a possible 34 regular season games. This number is really 35 if you count the playoffs.
The Vikings will surely be looking to fortify the position in the 2026 offseason. The only question is, how?
There are plenty of theories flying around. Will Mac Jones be a trade target? Will Minnesota target Malik Willis, who proved he can play with the big boys in Green Bay?
Or, are the Minnesota Vikings looking even bigger than that? Apparently, no one has ruled that out yet. At least, not to ESPN‘s Kevin Seifert.
Vikings Showing No Signs of Backing Down from Major QB Trade
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 04: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings talks with teammates during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Seifert took to KFAN to discuss the QB situation in the Twin Cities. VikingzFanPage on X summarized the report via a post.
“I could not find anyone to tell me that they definitely don’t want to pursue a Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson or whoever else might shake loose in terms of a guy that would absolutely come in here as the unquestioned starter.”
This time of year, this truly could be a nothing-burger. Joe Burrow would be pretty difficult for the Bengals to move. Lamar Jackson may be excited for what he thinks are greener pastures in the post-Harbaugh era in Baltimore.
It does make for an interesting conversation, however. The O’Connell-Adofo-Mensah regime are going into year 5 calling the shots for the Vikings. They have come away so far with a whopping zero playoff victories in two appearances.
This regime may be facing the heat for ownership, as there’s likely a low number of GM/head-coach combinations that are allowed to go half of a decade without a playoff win with no consequences.
Adofo-Mensah Speaks on Keeping Daniel Jones for a Competitive Enviornment at QB
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 21: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings in action during the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 21, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Minnesota Vikings won 16-13. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah recently spoke about mistakes made during negotiations in early-2025 with QB Daniel Jones.
“You’re trying to make sure that you don’t lock yourselves into what you did and thinking that it’s always right.
I always go back to the process and what we thought at the time. It’s easier to go and be revisionist and results-based, but going to really think through what we had at the time, I still understand why we did what we did. The results maybe didn’t play out the way we wanted them to, but ultimately, I think that at the end of the day, we could’ve executed better in certain places”
Essentially, the Vikings wanted Daniel Jones back in order to push J.J. McCarthy. Jones decided to pick a destination with a clearer path to start, knowing the Vikings’ long-term investments were held up in the 22-year-old.
McCarthy’s play did not justify their decision. thus, the Vikings are again looking for QB stability heading into the 2026 off-season.
The Vikings may look to rectify their wrongs by swinging big for a star signal caller like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson.
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