Whichever fighter you choose in the looming continuation of the battle for the starting quarterback job during Minnesota Vikings' training camp, the overall hope is that either Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy asserts himself as the answer at the position beyond the 2026 season.
But if franchise history means anything, with a healthy dose of fan pessimism naturally interlaced with it, the Vikings will be looking for a new quarterback in 2027. How that would come to fruition is the question.
Does Murray play so well that he prices himself out of a longer stay in Minnesota? Does McCarthy never play, or when he does play, does he look like the 2025 version when he faced legit defenses? Does the loser of the camp battle end up being traded?
In a scenario where neither Murray nor McCarthy shows themselves as the guy under center for the Vikings in 2027, K.Joudry of Vikings Territory has unveiled a potential option so obvious it has been easy not to even think about.
A potential future Minnesota Vikings' QB option is sort of obvious (and hopefully unnecessary)
New general manager Nolan Teasley has already dipped back into his roots to add players to the fringe of the Vikings' roster. That's where Joudry paved the path to a potential quarterback option for 2027.
"Does that path back to the Pacific Northwest involve snagging Jalen Milroe?", Joudry wrote.
"The backup passer for Seattle isn’t going to usurp (Sam) Darnold. The 29-year-old quarterback led his team to a Super Bowl victory while pushing Jaxon Smith-Njigba into the conversation for best WR in the NFL. He’s close to untouchable. Milroe can continue hanging around as an upside backup but that may not be the best use of the young arm for more than just another year or two."
After capping his first season in Seattle with a Super Bowl ring, Sam Darnold probably isn't going anywhere as the Seahawks' quarterback anytime soon. He's also one year into a three-year deal that has a potential out after two years, while Milroe has three years left on his rookie contract.
The Seahawks also don't seem inclined to bolster Darnold's compensation in the short-term or sign him to a contract extension with two years left on his current deal. Until something is done on that front, Milroe lurks as the potential successor who was drafted after Darnold signed, and is under contract for a year beyond him.
Still, as key parts of the Seahawks' draft process and having been there last season, Teasley and new assistant general manager Trent Kirchner know Milroe well.
The Seahawks are also poised to have a tradeable asset in a quarterback-starved league, even if that potential interest in Milroe seems more likely to come (and be more seriously entertained) next offseason.
Right now, no Vikings fan really wants to think about a scenario where Murray or McCarthy isn't locked in as the starting quarterback, looking toward 2027. But if it happens, Milroe is an intriguing potential option who could easily land on the radar based on his front office ties.
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