When NFL insider Diana Russini reported that the Minnesota Vikings were going to bring in a veteran to compete with J.J. McCarthy in camp, she probably didn’t mean Anthony Richardson. Instead, players like Carson Wentz and Derek Carr come to mind.
Richardson, the fourth-overall pick in 2023, will be 24 next year. However, Kevin O’Connell is a fan of Richardson’s, and the Vikings tried to move up to draft him three years ago. Still, there is a way for Minnesota to explore Richardson’s upside, while also bringing in a veteran quarterback to set a floor.
The Vikings will have to be creative to bring Richardson into camp while leaving open the possibility of adding a reliable veteran like Carr if they don’t feel Richardson is ready to start a game. Still, there’s a way they can tap into Richardson’s upside without creating the quarterback issues they did last year.
Here’s how.
First, the Vikings must ensure that Wentz and Carr want to play next year and let them know they should be ready to sign a contract in mid-August if Richardson isn’t ready. Then they should send the Indianapolis Colts a Day 3 pick for Richardson.
Wentz couldn’t resist playing hero ball last year, and his unwillingness to slide in London led to a season-ending shoulder injury.
I believe #Eagles rookie safety Andrew Mukuba had his best coverage game this season against Minnesota watching back the film and the numbers back that up.
Per @NextGenStats Carson Wentz's QB rating with Mukuba as the nearest defender was 36.7, the lowest among qualified Eagles… pic.twitter.com/vOZX79mZ2V
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) October 20, 2025
However, Justin Jefferson averaged 95.4 yards receiving with Wentz under center and 61.6 on the season. Wentz, 33, isn’t a long-term solution at quarterback, but he can get Jefferson the ball.
Meanwhile, Carr said he would unretire to play for a Super Bowl contender. Carr, 34, is a four-time Pro Bowler. He last made the Pro Bowl in 2022, when he threw for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Carr signed with the New Orleans Saints a year later. He didn’t make the Pro Bowl in 2023, but he threw for 3,878 yards, with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Carr retired last year due to a severe shoulder injury and has a long history of injuries. Still, he was a productive quarterback two years ago, and he should be more productive playing with Minnesota’s roster.
However, there’s a catch with Carr. The Saints control his rights because they still have him under contract. Tyler Shough is New Orleans’ franchise quarterback, and they won’t want to take on Carr’s salary. However, they will demand draft picks in return for Carr.
New Orleans has a unique rivalry with the Vikings. The Saints placed a bounty on Brett Favre during the 2009 game in which they beat Minnesota to advance to the Super Bowl. Ten years later, the Vikings beat New Orleans in the playoffs after Kyle Rudolph, ahem, got away with a push off in the end zone.
.@KirkCousins8 to @KyleRudolph82 for the @Vikings walkoff win in OT. pic.twitter.com/aXSJllOqpB
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2020
Things got so petty that Sean Payton forced Minnesota to trade up for J.J. McCarthy, even though he had no intention of drafting the former Michigan quarterback. Payton carried his Vikings grievances with him to Denver.
However, the Vikings and Saints are now in different places. New Orleans is rebuilding around Shough. Meanwhile, Minnesota is trying to contend while Jefferson is still in his prime and Brian Flores is running the defense.
Therefore, the Saints will want the draft capital from a Carr trade, and Minnesota needs a quarterback who can run Kevin O’Connell’s system. Both teams have an incentive to get the deal done. It’s just a matter of whether the Vikings want to explore Anthony Richardson’s upside first.
J.J. McCarthy still represents the most upside for the Vikings. However, they can’t waste another season trying to develop him in-game. If he doesn’t look ready during camp, Minnesota must find someone else to run the offense.
Richardson, 23, is only three years removed from being the fourth-overall pick. Kevin O’Connell could see if he can develop him during camp, while also having veteran fallback options on speed dial.
Suppose Richardson doesn’t look ready, and the Vikings can’t reach a deal with New Orleans for Derek Carr. Then, they can bring back Carson Wentz, who should benefit from playing another year in Minnesota’s system.
It’s a convoluted way to create competition for J.J. McCarthy. Still, they can’t endure another season with poor quarterback play. The simplest solution would have been to franchise-tag Sam Darnold. However, the Vikings allowed him to get away, and they might need to get creative to ensure they have the right quarterback under center this year.