The Minnesota Vikings are undeniably in the market for a veteran quarterback. The Aaron Rodgers ship has hopefully sailed, much to his chagrin, and the list of viable options is getting thinner and thinner.
Even if J.J. McCarthy is so awful in OTAs to push the Vikings toward circling back to Rodgers, that won't be happening for a while (perhaps a long while, if Rodgers ends up fulfilling all parts of the Brett Favre prophecy).
Late last month, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah more or less confirmed the timing of a veteran quarterback being brought in.
This past week, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune further confirmed that timeline.
"[Due to the compensatory pick formula], the Vikings will [likely] be selective with their free agent additions at least until 3 p.m. on April 28. After that deadline, free agents no longer count in the comp pick formula for the 2026 draft, meaning the Vikings can sign a veteran quarterback without risk of losing draft capital next year."
April 28 or 29 is, of course, after the 2025 NFL Draft, removing any free-agent signings from the compensatory draft pick formula for 2026.
Suggested Minnesota Vikings free-agent signing feels like only a matter of time until it actually happens
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has highlighted one free-agent signing who can help each NFL team, and his fit for the Vikings is as cut and dry as it gets.
"While there's been plenty of buzz about the Vikings and Aaron Rodgers, head coach Kevin O'Connell recently told reporters that the quarterback reached out to Minnesota, Joe Flacco would be a more sensible option.
Flacco showed with the Colts last season that he can support a young quarterback and still be ready to start in a pinch. He could do the same in Minnesota without drawing the attention that Rodgers inevitably would."
Flacco has been easy to see as a fit for the Vikings as a backup and mentor for McCarthy, and certainly a better overall fit than Rodgers. And while he didn't play particularly well when he started for the Indianapolis Colts against Minnesota last season, Flacco has proven capable of holding down the fort when called upon.
As much as the veteran quarterback options for the Vikings are thinned, the number of teams for Flacco to sign with has run parallel to that. At this point, it feels like a matter of time before a signing happens, and that time is a little over three weeks from now.