The Minnesota Vikings have spent the offseason telling everyone, including some people who can't let go of another option, that J.J. McCarthy will be their starting quarterback this year--and if things go as planned, for years to come.
However, the conversation about who McCarthy's backup will be has been far more nuanced. Options to sign in free agency were easy to offer, and as notable names were signed elsewhere, it appeared bringing someone aboard was not a particular priority for the Vikings in an otherwise active offseason.
But a trade for a backup quarterback option lingered as a possibility. After what was apparently years of interest in Sam Howell, a trade to acquire him from the Seattle Seahawks came to fruition on Day 3 of the draft.
While his one full season as an NFL starter did not go well, primarily due to the Washington Commanders putting a lackluster offensive line in front of him, Howell has those 17 starts and 18 total NFL starts on his resume. So he is presumably unquestioned as the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback as OTAs get going, and the first option to step in if something happened to McCarthy.
Report suggests level playing field for Minnesota Vikings QB2 battle
On Tuesday's episode of SKOR North's "Minnesota Sports with Mackey & Judd", co-host Judd Zulgad brought up Howell and the confidence in him as McCarthy's backup. After some preamble about the Vikings' lackluster pursuit of a veteran backup quarterback and the trade for Howell, KSTP's Darren Wolfson opened the job up to an equal competition when training camp comes.
"I'm telling you, that's a legit battle. Brett Rypien v. Sam Howell," Wolfson said. "...to think it's 100 percent foregone conclusion that Sam Howell is the next man up? No. Hold your horses. That's a legit battle, July into August, Howell versus Rypien."
Rypien landed with the Vikings in late August last year, and he did not play at all last season as Sam Darnold's backup. He is 28 years old, with four NFL starts on what has become a well-traveled resume.
But not being in on most every notable veteran option revealed some apparent level of comfort in just going with him a McCarthy's backup this season. It's worth wondering if trading for Howell changed that idea very much.
Wolfson added that Howell would be the "betting favorite" in the battle with Rypien to be McCarthy's backup, with reference to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's post-trade comments about them liking Howell before the 2022 draft.
But as Wolfson also noted, late May is too early to jump to conclusions and assume Howell will be the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback. Ideally, it ends up being a moot point who McCarthy's backup is, but Rypien should not be dismissed as a legit option, as he presumably operates on a level playing field with Howell.