The Vikings May Need a Certain Type of QB in 2026

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy injured his hand in Week 16, dampening the enthusiasm on a 2.5-game turnaround and raising even more questions about the franchise’s future with him in the saddle. The ailment has suggested a new theory for Minnesota: the club might need another young quarterback with unknown upside in 2026, not just an old warhorse veteran passer to right the ship if needed.

Minnesota doesn’t necessarily need a superstar next year — it may need a stable, competent option who can keep things afloat if the QB room gets shaky again.

Players like Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jimmy Garoppolo will always be available in free agency, but Minnesota might be forced to explore a reclaimation project quarterback — a young one — to partner with McCarthy and take over if the injuries persist. The theoretical signal-caller would “know his role” as QB2 but would have the chance explode if McCarthy got hurt. Again.

The following men are examples listed alphabetically.

The Type of Quarterback the Vikings Should Target in 2026

The Vikings could need a youthful “upside” quarterback — not just Carson Wentz again.

1. Mac Jones

Jones is under contract with the San Francisco 49ers next season, and with Brock Purdy’s splotchy injury history, general manager John Lynch may be in no rush to get rid of him. However, if Jones believes he can start somewhere in 2026, he could push the envelope via trade request.

Of all names with the “upside” criteria, Jones might be the best option on this list, able to know his role if McCarthy keeps the QB1 job, but willing to step in and thrive if McCarthy falls injured.

Here’s his 2025 production this year scaled to 17 games:

2. Will Levis

Levis is a bit of a knucklehead on the field, known for his recklessness and some comical highlights that teetered on stupidity rather than hero ball.

But in Tennessee, the man is buried on the depth chart, injured, and supplanted the moment the Titans drafted Cam Ward, who has shown flashes of promise as a rookie, especially in the last three games.

Here’s the argument for Levis to Minnesota:

1. He’s big-armed.
2. He’ll have to go somewhere soon.
3. O’Connell, in theory, could coach him up.

3. Jalen Milroe

The Seattle Seahawks drafted Milroe in Round 3 last April, and he’s the QB3 behind Sam Darnold and Drew Lock. Let’s face it, so long as Darnold doesn’t collapse in the postseason — he may, in fact, do that, because he’s done it before — Darnold is young enough to become the Seahawks’ QB1 solution for the next decade.

If that happens — Darnold not capitulating in the playoffs — Milroe won’t be needed anytime soon. The Vikings could probably steal him away via trade for a 5th-Round pick or so.

4. Spencer Rattler

Here’s something you won’t hear from national media: Rattler has a better EPA+CPOE (wins added by quarterback) in 2025 than Baker Mayfield, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Tyler Shough.

The Saints decided their losing ways were attributable to Rattler personally, benching him in October for Shough, who has played quite well. But Rattler is not terrible, and should grab one more chance at a QB1 job before it’s all said and done. New Orleans mailed it on him rather quickly because it had Shough — a 26-year-old rookie — ready and waiting.

5. Anthony Richardson

Above, we mentioned Levis’ big arm; Richardson’s is stronger.

The Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback situation is so brutal at the moment that they have a 44-year-old chunky Philip Rivers as the starter. Richardson may be nearing a return to the lineup after recovering from an injury, but the Colts’ brass made it very clear in the last two seasons that it has mostly given up on Richardson.

He is 23 years old and needs more time to develop. Why not the Vikings?

6. Malik Willis

A darling right now because he played fabulously in relief of Jordan Love in Week 16, Willis should eventually get an audition as a team’s QB1. He may not last for the long term, but Willis has the physical traits and resume in Green Bay to turn heads.

Willis doesn’t necessarily fit O’Connell’s modus operandi on offense, but he’s a better quarterback than Max Brosmer and John Wolford. That’s all that matters for the purposes of this article.

Maybe Willis is the next big reclamation tale in the vein of Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield.

7. Zach Wilson

The longest longshot on the list, Wilson once appeared to have the raw talent to succeed as a QB1. The Jets spent the second overall pick on him in 2021, and he flamed out of New York rather swiftly.

His problem? Well, the Miami Dolphins just demoted Tua Tagovailoa and handed the baton to rookie Quinn Ewers, completely bypassing Wilson, who was No. 2 on the depth chart. If he couldn’t beat out Ewers for a QB1 job, his career could be cooked.

But as the slogan goes: “Maybe O’Connell could fix him.”