Kevin O'Connell Minnesota Vikings head coach
Getty
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: Head coaches Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings and Matt Lafleur of the Green Bay Packers meet after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings have already admitted that they are planning to bring in another quality quarterback this offseason to add to a room that currently boasts just J.J. McCarthy and former undrafted free agent Max Brosmer, who struggled mightily when thrown into action in two games last season.
Amidst rumors that the Vikings could pursue a trade with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones this offseason, head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked whether he still retains the view that McCarthy is a franchise quarterback.
Kevin Seifert
Kevin O’Connell today on if he still views J.J. McCarthy as a franchise QB: “A lot of those feelings are still the same. It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was [in 2024].”
Kevin O’Connell Comments on J.J. McCarthy as Franchise QB
“Kevin O’Connell today on if he still views J.J. McCarthy as a franchise QB: “A lot of those feelings are still the same.” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert posted on X. “It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was [in 2024].”
However, the rest of his statement – per Seifert’s later article on ESPN – noted that the team needs to utilize both data and past experiences to shape how the coaching staff and front office will configure the roster in 2026 and beyond.
“And I have a responsibility — we have a responsibility collectively as we put together this team — to make sure that we use the data that we have at this time and the experiences we have, the feelings that we’ve had at different times as an organization.” O’Connell continued.
The feelings that O’Connell is referring to is that of his comments in August 2024, when he called McCarthy – who at that time was a rookie that had just impressed in pre-season prior to suffering a season-ending meniscus injury – “our franchise quarterback“.
Will J.J. McCarthy Be the Vikings’ Starting QB in 2026?
That is the million dollar question!
The idea of adding both strength and depth to the room is to both allow McCarthy space to develop and improve whilst also hedging against further injuries – which have already vastly impeded McCarthy’s short career to-date – and poor play in 2026.
Mac Jones does seem like a clear candidate, but the question will be whether it makes sense for Minnesota to give up substantial draft capital for a player with one year remaining on his deal, who could command a very substantial salary next offseason. Especially if he is given more opportunities to play, and continues to deliver the kind of performances he did in 2025 in place of 49ers starter, Brock Purdy.
The quarterback that the Vikings will ultimately add to their room will most likely be a competitor for McCarthy, rather than an outright replacement – unless someone truly elite like Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow becomes available.
At the end of the day, it does seem that the most realistic scenario is that the decision as to whether McCarthy is Minnesota’s QB1 come September will come down to his own quality of play in the pre-season and in training camp.