The Minnesota Vikings have only undrafted rookie Max Brosmer to whom they can turn in Seattle on Sunday, November 30 if JJ McCarthy doesn’t clear the NFL’s concussion protocol this week, but that won’t be the case for long.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated predicted on Tuesday, November 25 that the Vikings will add at least one viable starting quarterback to the roster next offseason. The meaningful questions are what type of player will the Vikings search for, and who can the team afford as it faces a $36 million salary cap deficit in 2026 as of late November.
Minnesota might consider drafting a QB, but probably not early on. The Vikings have eight picks next April, but five of them come in the fifth round or later, including three selections in the seventh round.
Signing a blockbuster free agent is highly unlikely because Minnesota isn’t going to have that kind of money and the most-accomplished option is Daniel Jones, who the Vikings let walk to Indianapolis for a one-year deal worth $14 million last spring, and whom the Colts are likely to re-sign after he has led them to an 8-3 record and legitimate contention in the AFC.
The home-run cut would be a trade with the Colts for Anthony Richardson, which isn’t overly risky as he is entering the final season of his $34 million rookie contract and carries a base salary of just $1.15 million in 2026. But Richardson would be a development play for the future and not necessarily an answer next year if McCarthy continues to falter.
As such, an established free agent like Joe Flacco on an inexpensive deal reads like the safest bet, at least as priority one, with a potential move for a guy like Richardson still feasible as a secondary play.
Joe Flacco Has Proven His Competency in Explosive Offenses Over His Time With Bengals This Season
GettyQuarterback Joe Flacco of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Flacco, who started this season with the Browns before Cleveland traded him within the division to the Cincinnati Bengals, turns 41 years old in January. That said, he’s proven himself a viable starter on teams that have solid rosters on both sides of the football.
He led the Browns to a 4-1 record down the stretch of the 2023 campaign, helping the team earn a playoff berth. Flacco also played in eight games, and started six of those, for the Colts last year, though was less impressive and finished with a 2-4 record.
Flacco was a far cry from exceptional through four starts in Cleveland to kick off the 2025 season, but the Browns’ offensive line was, and still is, among the worst in the NFL. He also had limited options at wide receiver, with Jerry Jeudy serving as the team’s clear No. 1 option in the pass game.
However, after Flacco arrived in Cincinnati, his numbers exploded. He has completed nearly 62 percent of his passes for 1,636 yards, 13 TDs and just 4 INTs across six starts. The Bengals are 1-5 in that run, but have scored more than 27 points per contest over that stretch, including games of 38 points and 42 points in consecutive contests against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, respectively — both of which outings Cincinnati lost because it fields arguably the worst defense in the NFL.
Flacco has thrown for more than 48,000 career yards, along with 272 TDs and 172 INTs. He is also affordable, having signed a $4.25 million deal in 2025.
Joe Flacco Type of QB Who Makes Most Sense for Vikings Heading Into Next Year With JJ McCarthy as Starter
GettyQuarterback Joe Flacco of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Flacco obviously isn’t a longterm answer for the Vikings, but Minnesota may not yet be seeking one. Breer noted that the team is likely to hand the reins of the offense back to McCarthy this season once he is healthy — and considering he has started only six games, McCarthy will probably have the edge to win the QB1 job entering camp in 2026.
However, Flacco has proven he can serve as a legitimate stopgap option — particularly for a team in Minnesota that has a good defense, revamped the offensive line last offseason and has high-level skill-position players all over the field.
It doesn’t appear as though circumstances will line up for the Vikings to make a big swing on a new signal-caller in 2026, save for a potential Richardson trade. It also doesn’t seem like Minnesota is quite ready to make such a move after spending a top-10 pick on McCarthy in 2024 and betting big on him this season.
But a veteran quarterback who can feasibly step into a starting role and save the Vikings from a second consecutive lost season due to poor quarterback play is likely on his way to Minnesota next spring — and if Flacco isn’t retired by then, he’s going to be at the top of the list of viable candidates.
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