The Minnesota Vikings aren’t going to deviate from the plan of starting second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, at least not ahead of the regular season.
Minnesota brass is banking hard that McCarthy, a 22-year-old QB entering the second season of his $22 million rookie contract, can steer one of the NFL’s best offenses to playoff pay dirt where Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins failed before him.
But a security blanket behind the decidedly green signal-caller who sat out his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury sure would be nice. And no offense to Sam Howell, who has a big arm and 18 professional starts under his belt (5-13), but he ain’t it. Neither is QB3 Brett Rypien based on five years of evidence, while QB4 Max Brosmer is an undrafted rookie who looks destined for the practice squad in 2025.
More than one analyst has floated a reunion with Cousins as a possible answer, though that could get messy if McCarthy struggles early and Minnesota doesn’t want to bounce him from the starting lineup. Not to mention, the Vikings would probably have to take on $10 million or so of Cousins’ $27.5 million salary to get the Atlanta Falcons to agree to a deal, which would mitigate the financial advantage Minnesota has created by starting a signal-caller on a rookie-scale contract.
But other veteran quarterbacks are going to be available, potentially before the summer is out. If Howell bombs in training camp, the Vikings are going to need to look for one anyway — and identifying and adding one now makes considerable sense even if Minnesota wants to keep Howell on the roster.
Enter Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns.
Joe Flacco Makes Most Sense as Trade Option Based on Browns’ QB Competition
GettyQuarterback Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns.
Flacco, who is making $4.25 million this year, isn’t necessarily going to be available. But he is currently in a four-way battle for the QB1 job in Cleveland, which profiles as one of the worst couple of teams in football again in 2025.
He and Kenny Pickett are the two veterans embroiled in the competition, while rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders round out the proverbial card. The Browns probably aren’t moving either of them, at least not until they’ve had a chance to prove themselves on the field in an actual game or two, and the team can’t start Flacco and Pickett simultaneously.
Given that Pickett, 27, is 13 years younger than Flacco, 40, and presumably has more upside as a longterm possibility, it’s reasonable to assume Flacco is the most likely candidate for the trade block. Furthermore, Cleveland is going to make its QB hierarchy known earlier in training camp, which starts next week. As such, if Flacco is available, he should be so by sometime in the first half of August.
That’s enough time for the former Super Bowl MVP to pick up what he needs to from Kevin O’Connell’s offense and prepare himself for a stint as the Vikings starter should McCarthy bust this season or suffer another sever injury at some point.
Vikings Should Lock Down Joe Flacco as Soon as Possible
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco.
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report advised the Browns to deal Flacco for draft capital anyway, and Minnesota could offer a Day-3 pick that sends a real asset back Cleveland’s way for a quarterback they may not need/use this season and almost certainly won’t include on the roster come spring 2026.
“While Flacco could be the starting quarterback in Cleveland this year, let’s be honest, the Browns are going to have a tough time being a playoff contender this season,” Holder wrote Wednesday, July 16. “Meanwhile, trading Flacco would yield some draft capital from a team that could use a veteran backup.”
Sure, Minnesota could wait to see how Howell pans out. The team could then sign a veteran out of free agency if it really needs one, with players like Carson Wentz still available.
But Flacco has had stints as a starter in each of the past two seasons. He led the Browns to a 4-1 record down the stretch in 2023 and into the first round of the AFC playoffs before winning the Indianapolis Colts starting job from recent No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson last season, then holding it for several games.
If the Browns put Flacco on the block, he’s going to have a market. And the longer the Vikings wait to add just one viable veteran to their quarterback room — which is the most important position in the sport, by the way — the more competition they are likely to encounter for players who fit the bill.
Translation: go after a QB like Flacco now and pay less rather than deal with the regret and fallout later.
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