When looking at the 2026 Minnesota Vikings schedule that was released on Thursday, it's pretty unlikely that they are going to face every one of their opponents' top quarterbacks.
When is the last time the Vikings went through a season and didn't face any backup signal-callers? It just doesn't happen, at least not in the modern age of the NFL. There are just too many injuries each season.
With that being said, Minnesota is probably going to go up against a few backup quarterbacks next season, so who are the best No. 2 passers they could face in 2026?
Ranking every backup QB the Minnesota Vikings could face during the 2026 season
14. Cade Klubnik - New York Jets
No offense to Cade Klubnik, but this is more about the unknown. Klubnik is a rookie, and perhaps he could be better than anticipated for New York next season. But this is also the Jets, and more likely than not, Klubnik probably isn't going to be good whenever he gets on the field in 2026.
13. Kyle Allen - Buffalo Bills
Since 2020, Kyle Allen has a 1-5 record as a starter. Yeah, there's a reason Allen is a backup and Bills fans better pray Josh Allen is able to stay healthy for the entire 2026 season, or it could get ugly fast.
12. Quinn Ewers - Miami Dolphins
Quinn Ewers was really good for the Dolphins in the preseason last year. As for the regular season, well, not so much. But Quinn Ewers was really good for the Dolphins in the preseason last year.
11. Tommy DeVito - New England Patriots
Tommy DeVito was a cult hero as a rookie with the New York Giants in 2023. But now DeVito's best gig is figuring out which local pizza shop will pay him the most to appear in their commercials.
10. Jake Browning - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After some impressive moments as a rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023, Jake Browning quickly reminded everyone last season why he went undrafted. Browning is a solid backup, but he's not going be much help for the Bucs when they go against teams who won't be tanking for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
9. Tyson Bagent - Chicago Bears
Tyson Bagent has done nothing in his NFL career to make anyone believe he's actually good. But Ben Johnson likes him, so that has to mean something, right?
8. Spencer Rattler - New Orleans Saints
At 25-years-old, Spencer Rattler could still have a random 2017 Case Keenum-esque season in him for some team in the NFL one day. But in Rattlers' time on the field since entering the league in 2023, all he's done is show he still has a long way to go before any opposing teams are going to worry about facing him.
7. Kenny Pickett - Carolina Panthers
Believe it or not, Kenny Pickett is actually 16-11 in his NFL career as a starter. If Bryce Young struggles for the Panthers next season, we might see Pickett get a shot to add some more wins to that starting record.
6. Anthony Richardson - Indianapolis Colts
One of the league's most polarizing quarterbacks in recent memory, it's not hard to figure out why Anthony Richardson was drafted so high in 2023. Richardson has all the tools any team could ever ask for in a signal-caller, but the problem is that he doesn't know how to use them correctly, at least not yet.
Richardson is one of the few backups in the NFL this year who could still end up becoming a franchise quarterback for another organization in the future.
5. Tua Tagovailoa - Atlanta Falcons
No team is going to be shaking in their boots if they have to face Tua Tagovailoa next season, but the guy does know how to run an offense. New Falcons head coach, and former Vikings offensive coordinator, Kevin Stefanski is good at getting the most out of his quarterback, and there's a good chance the same could be true if Tagovailoa has to start at all for Atlanta next season.
4. Teddy Bridgewater - Detroit Lions
Teddy Bridgewater will forever have a place in the hearts of Minnesota fans, but he's back playing with the enemy in 2026. There's a reason why Bridgewater was able to land a job late in the 2024 season with the Lions after spending the previous few months as a high-school football coach, and it's not because he's a bad quarterback.
3. Tyrod Taylor - Green Bay Packers
Tyrod Taylor on a bad team with a terrible coaching staff is still a threat to help his team get a win. Now that Taylor is with the Packers, Green Bay fans, unfortunately, shouldn't worry too much if he has to fill in for Jordan Love at all next season.
2. Marcus Mariota - Commanders
At this stage in his career, Marcus Mariota seems to be content with just being the backup in Washington behind Jayden Daniels. If Daniels has to miss any time next season due to injury, Commanders fans know Mariota can still lead their team to a win.
Mac Jones - San Francisco 49ers
Heading into the upcoming season, Mac Jones is easily the best backup quarterback in the NFL, and it's not even close. Jones should probably be a starter again, but at this point, he's clearly comfortable with being the No. 2 behind Brock Purdy in San Francisco for a little while longer.
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