The Minnesota Vikings may have shelved their interest in Aaron Rodgers for now, but the team is still on the lookout for a veteran quarterback to pair with J.J. McCarthy.
That quarterback, according to Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Ben Goessling will serve in a clear role that is not to compete with McCarthy for the starting job but rather support the 22-year-old quarterback.
Minnesota can go several routes, which could include a trade later in the offseason, but one former Pro Bowl quarterback is a candidate and waiting in free agency.
In a March 19 post on X (formerly Twitter), Goessling said former Tennessee Titans Pro Bowler Ryan Tannehill is a backup quarterback option he would keep an eye on, particularly because Tannehill is not a qualifying free agent and would not count against the 2026 compensatory pick formula -- which rewards teams with draft capital that have more quality free agents leave than incoming.
Tannehill, 36, did not play in 2024 but has plenty of playing experience he could provide in mentoring McCarthy. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Tannehill played six seasons with the Miami Dolphins before he was traded to the Tennessee Titans.
Tannehill took over as starter in Week 7 following the benching of Marcus Mariota and managed to put forth a Pro Bowl-worthy 10-game performance. He threw for 228 yards per game and tallied 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. Tannehill threw multiple touchdowns in all but one game and finished the season with a 117.5 passer rating.
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The Titans made it to the AFC Championship that season but fell to the eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs. While Tennessee rode Derrick Henry through the postseason, Tannehill threw for five touchdowns and just one interception in his first playoff season.
Tannehill is far from his peak playing days with the Titans but is just three years removed from going 12-5 as a starter in a year where Tennessee lost Henry midseason. The veteran quarterback was leaned on for more offense and threw for 3,734 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
The Vikings are searching for a quarterback who can be an asset to developing McCarthy and also start in a pinch.
And given Tannehill would be plugged into one of the most quarterback-friendly environments in the league, there's at least a decent chance he could lead the team long-term if McCarthy were to go down -- especially with O'Connell's reputation as a quarterback guru.
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This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 2:01 PM.