The Minnesota Vikings are less than one month away from participating in the NFL Draft and they have clearly accomplished the large majority of their goals in free agency.
They picked up a pair of offensive linemen in OG Will Fries and C Ryan Kelly of the Indianapolis Colts as well as a pair of defensive tackles in Jonathan Allen of the Washington Commanders and Javon Hargrave of the San Francisco 49ers. They also traded for running back Jordan Mason of the Niners.
In addition to bringing in those new players, they also held on to safeties Harrison Smith and Theo Jackson, CB Byron Murphy, RB Aaron Jones and P Ryan Wright.
They have addressed all their major positional needs that were obvious in their end-of-season losses to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams when their interior offensive line got overwhelmed and defensive tackles did not provide enough push.
However, there is one major question mark left as they attack this year’s draft with their four selections. (They have choices in the first, third, fifth and sixth rounds.)
The question is at the quarterback position where J.J. McCarthy is slated to become the team’s QB1. While his 2024 season ended after Minnesota’s first preseason game when he suffered a torn meniscus, head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterback coach Josh McCown had basically fallen in love with what they had seen from the No. 10 pick in the draft.
McCarthy was in the process of combining his undeniable talent and athleticism with an impressive understanding of O’Connell’s quarterback-friendly system. Despite the competence and success that Sam Darnold had with the Vikings last season, it seems quite likely that McCarthy would have won the position by early October at the latest.
The Vikings let Sam Darnold leave and he will attempt to repeat last year’s success – 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 102.5 passer rating – with the Seattle Seahawks. Minnesota has two quarterbacks in the fold at this point, and neither one is a proven commodity.
McCarthy and Brett Rypien inhabit the Vikings’ quarterback room and there are no veterans to keep them company. As much as O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah like McCarthy, having a veteran quarterback is necessary insurance for the 2025 season.
There has been a loud flirtation with Aaron Rodgers that Adofo-Mensah has danced around quite a bit. However, Rodgers should be the last of the veteran quarterbacks that the Vikings bring into the fold.
Rodgers is a 41-year-old diva who has lost some of his fastball, much of his mobility and has the kind of emotional makeup that could turn Minnesota’s sensational locker room into something of a war zone.
The former Packer star may have four MVP awards to his credit and a ticket to Canton that will be punched as soon as he is eligible for the shrine, but he is not going to just go along with O’Connell’s directives. He knows more about the position than anyone on the coaching staff and he is going to play the position his way.
O’Connell’s authority would be damaged by Rodgers
Bringing in Aaron Rodgers would become a problem for the Vikings. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty … More
No matter how agreeable Rodgers is in the talking and negotiations stage, he is not going to listen to Tom Brady’s former backup with the Patriots when he is under center. O’Connell may attempt to tell Rodgers what to do in the Vikings’ system, but he will play it just the way he wants to when the bullets start flying.
Ryan Tannehill, Joe Flacco and Drew Lock are all available, and they should all be pursued in that order. None of those quarterbacks are perfect, but Tannehill may be able to pick up where Darnold left off.
Tannehill did not play in 2024, but the 36-year-old has an 81-70 career record as a starter with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans during his 12 years in the NFL. He explained why he didn’t sign a year ago.
“At this point, I’ve been blessed to play 12 years and be where I’m at, so I’m not just going to continue to add years to add years,” Tannehill said. “I want to be in a situation that I feel really good about. I’m not ruling anything out, but it’s going to have to be the right situation for me and my family.”
The Vikings situation could be right for him.
The advice for Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell is to go hard after Tannehill and stay far away from Rodgers. That’s the kind of insurance policy that could provide a worthwhile short-term benefit.