While the Minnesota Vikings have several roster issues to address during this 2026 NFL offseason, the only one that seems to matter to most at this point is what the team plans to do at the quarterback position.
J.J. McCarthy, of course, was taken 10th overall in the 2024 draft but was forced to sit out his entire rookie campaign after suffering a torn meniscus during the preseason, at which point Sam Darnold stepped up and had the best year of his career in leading Minnesota to a 14-3 record.
The Vikes obviously chose to let Darnold walk out the door to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, which turned out pretty well for him, what with winning a Super Bowl and all, and handed the reins to McCarthy.
And while the Michigan alum showed flashes of brilliance, he struggled to stay healthy, ultimately missing seven games with various injuries, and certainly struggled at times when on the field, completing just 57.6 percent of his throws for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in his 10 appearances, thus earning a 72.6 passer rating, the third-lowest in the league among QBs who appeared in at least five games.
Naturally, fans and pundits alike have offered up opinions on what the Vikings should do, throwing name after name after name into the mix to either replace McCarthy outright, genuinely compete with him for the QB1 role in training camp, or just to accept the QB2 role, much like Carson Wentz did last offseason.
And make no mistake about it; there are plenty of QBs who could be available this offseason, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says just about every single one of them is begging to suit up in the Purple & Gold in 2026.
Jeremy Fowler believes "all the top quarterbacks" want to play for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026
During an appearance on NFL Live on Friday, Fowler stated that after talking to his sources around the league, he believes that every high-profile signal-caller wants to join the Vikings.
"My sense right now, from asking around," Fowler said, "is all the top quarterbacks that will be, or could be, available, Kyler Murray, Geno Smith, this is the place they want to go. It is Minnesota."
Murray and Smith certainly aren't the only QBs who've been mentioned as possible options for the Vikings. Naturally, a reunion with Kirk Cousins has been brought up by many, and Aaron Rodgers, who tried to make his way to Minnesota last year, continues to come up as well. Tua Tagovailoa. Mac Jones. Russell Wilson. Jimmy Garoppolo. Will Levis. Justin Fields. Malik Willis. Even the retired Derek Carr has been thrown in there at times. Believe me, I could keep going.
I don't doubt Fowler's report in the slightest. I mean, who wouldn't want to come throw passes to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison? Or join a franchise with a QB-friendly head coach? Or join a franchise with one of the top-ranked defenses in the league?
The Vikings now just have to make a choice on what they're going to do, and they're going to need to do it soon, as the new League Year begins in less than a month.