The Minnesota Vikings will be in the market for a quarterback this upcoming offseason. Nonetheless, the key aspect of the search will be the type of signal caller the team seeks.
Minnesota could pursue a pure backup for J.J. McCarthy, or there’s the option of bringing in a player who can challenge the second-year quarterback. However, could the Vikings chase a player to replace McCarthy as the starter?
Last offseason, the Vikings were in talks with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who would ultimately join the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodgers is currently on a one-year, $13.65 million contract with the Steelers for the 2025 NFL season.
Nonetheless, with Rodgers a free agent again, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis listed the former Green Bay Packers star as a potential one-year solution to the Vikings’ quarterback issue. Still, that would mean McCarthy would be relegated to the backup role in this possible scenario.
“Aaron Rodgers is a free agent,” Lewis said on the December 30 edition of “The Alec Lewis Show.” “Does Aaron Rodgers want to play another season? Would the Vikings be willing to just name him as the starter, because that’s what he would come here to do? Obviously, he’s a name I have to put here because of the conversations he and Kevin O’Connell had last offseason.
“Because his production, if he produced like he has done this year for the Vikings in 2026, with the same type of defense and the same coordinator and the same weapons, the odds would be that the Vikings would be in the playoffs, and probably compete in the first round for sure.”
Vikings Need to Improve Running Back Position
While the Vikings must address the quarterback position, they also need to strengthen other areas. They must bolster the running game, as the team is not on track to produce a 1,000-yard rusher—Jordan Mason leads the team with 664 yards.
With Aaron Jones Sr. being 31, the team clearly needs to start planning a replacement at the position. One way to replace Jones is through free agency. Lewis named Javonte Williams, Travis Etienne, Kenneth Gainwell, Emmanuel Wilson, and Brian Robinson Jr. as names Minnesota might have on its radar if the front office wants to go the free-agent route to address this weakness.
Furthermore, with so many names and profiles hitting the market in free agency, Lewis believes this approach might be sensible for the team.
“If you look at the free agent positions of this upcoming offseason, running back is one where there is a lot of depth and a lot of intriguing players there,“ Lewis added. “So, if that’s where the Vikings wanted to save money and spend money, it would be a sensible spot.”
Brian Flores Breaks Silence on Vikings Future
The running back position needs to be upgraded, but another aspect the Vikings must address is whether they can keep defensive coordinator Brian Flores. On December 30, Flores broke his silence regarding his future with Minnesota.
“Obviously, there’s been a lot of talk about my personal situation and next year,“ Flores said (h/t Pro Football Talk). “Look, I’ve said this many times. I’ve loved my time here in Minnesota. My family loves it. The state of Minnesota’s been tremendous to me. [Coach Kevin O’Connell] mentioned there’s been great dialogue, and there has. And now we’ll just kind of let the club and my representation handle the rest.
“And so that’s kind of where I’m at on that. I don’t, as you guys know, don’t like talking about myself. I think our players are doing a lot of great things on the field, and I don’t want to take away from them in any way; I think if anything, they deserve all of the recognition, I certainly don’t play, as you guys know.”
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