That left GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and QB whispering head coach Kevin O’Connell hunting for a new depth quarterback in 2025, to help mentor and backup medical redshirt rookie, JJ McCarthy.

In the end, the Vikings ended up with a mix of upside and veteran experience in their QB room for training camp. Brett Rypien was brought on last year and has a pretty good understanding of KOC’s offense, at this point. But he and his general manager weren’t satisfied with the 28-year-old journeyman who hasn’t seen an active roster since 2023.

Instead, Minnesota surprised everyone during the NFL Draft when they pulled off a trade with the Seattle Seahawks that sent the 142nd overall pick out west, in exchange for 25-year-old former UNC Tar Heel Sam Howell, along with the Seahawks’ 172nd overall pick.

5 backup quarterback options for the Minnesota Vikings

Entering training camp, the Minnesota Vikings were hoping that Sam Howell would quickly grab hold of the QB2 job. Unfortunately, that is not how reality has played out.

Reports from just about every Vikings reporter who’s attended or paid attention to what’s happening at camp in Eagan have all indicated that Howell is off to an extremely rough start and could be in trouble, come cut time.

Sam Howell is not long for this roster.

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) August 5, 2025

Dwight McGlothern picks off Sam Howell at the end of practice at Vikings Training Camp. pic.twitter.com/ZLZW3ZfodO

— Skol Geek (@SkolGeek) July 29, 2025

While more time in O’Connell’s system would certainly help, many wonder whether or not Howell is capable of holding down such an important position for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

If the Vikings ultimately determine that they need a more capable safety valve behind their second-year rookie, who could realistically be available to KOC and Kwesi? Well, let’s dive into a handful of Minnesota’s best potential replacement solutions.

1. Kirk Cousins Returns to Mentor His Replacement

Would this be awkward? Or would Kirk Cousins and his family just be happy to return to Minnesota? Our money is on the latter. Look, Cousins knows he has no shot at ‘winning’ a starting QB job this fall. His best chance is to stay ready, knowing he’s just one snap away from another chance to let ‘er rip.

Kevin O’Connell knows what Cousins brings to the QB room. A player with an advanced level of preparation and a work ethic that could make a lasting mark on the young, impressionable J.J. McCarthy. Are there cap hurdles (Cousins has a $40 million cap hit) to figure out?

Sure, but if the goal is to ensure the quarterback room has at least two capable starters who can win a game in a pinch, then there is no better short-term solution than trading for Cousins.

2. Jameis Winston’s Big-Play Potential Lands in MN

The Vikings brought in Sam Howell, in part because they saw a player with the ceiling of a high-level passer capable of putting up big numbers. Well, Jameis Winston matches that profile to a tee, even if he doesn’t offer untapped potential like the 24-year-old Howell.

Howell led the NFL with 21 interceptions in his second season while the Washington Commanders let him cut it loose. While turnovers are never an ideal outcome, the fact that the Vikings took a chance on a player who is so prone to throwing interceptions suggests there’s a chance they may covet Winston’s cannon arm too.

Related: Jeff Okudah Hype Train Picking Up Steam at Vikings Camp

As bad as the situation is for Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, Winston has it even worse with the New York Giants. Since signing in New York, the Giants have not only anointed Russell Wilson as the starter, they also drafted QB Jaxson Dart in the first round after signing Winston. In other words, not only does he have no short-term future in New York, Dart is the long-term solution too.

That could mean Winston is on the trade block, especially since the Giants still have fan favorite Tommy DeVito on the roster as a fourth-string QB. In other words, trading for Winston likely would cost less than the Vikings spent on Howell (moving down from 142 to 172 in fifth round of 2025 NFL Draft.)

3. Carson Wentz Joins His Favorite Team

While he’s largely been forgotten about now, Carson Wentz once looked like the future of the NFL. But long before the Philadelphia Eagles sent a King’s ransom to the Cleveland Browns to select the former NDSU star with the second overall pick, Wentz grew up as a Vikings fan who idolized Brett Favre.

Wentz has since had a very unique rollercoaster NFL career as someone who was on the cusp of being an MVP candidate and now doesn’t even have a job in the middle of training camp. However, let’s not act like he’s a polished turd either. Remember, Andy Reid still wanted Wentz to be Patrick Mahomes’ backup last season.

The year before he was helping the AFC representatives reach the Super Bowl? Wentz was signed to be Matthew Stafford’s backup, where he learned Sean McVay’s system on the Rams. Basically, it shouldn’t take long for him to get up to speed in coach O’Connell’s system either, and he’s still just 32 years old, so he may still have a bit of magic in him when the chips are down.

4. Vikings Trade for Kenny Pickett

If the Vikings are hung up on the idea of having a capable backup who’s still fairly young with untapped potential, much like they thought they were getting in Howell, then why not Kenny Pickett? The former first-round pick only got 24 starts to prove what he could do before being traded to the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last offseason.

Still just 27, Pickett brings a nice mix of experience and possible untapped potential. Hmm, that sounds a bit like Sam Darnold, before the Vikings fixed him and turned him into a $100 million Pro Bowl QB.

As one of five quarterbacks competing for the Cleveland Browns’ starting job, Pickett could very well find himself on the outside looking in. A fair offer of something like a late Day 3 pick (5th-7th round) should be enough to pry him out of Cleveland.

5. Ryan Tannehill Provides A Steady Hand

This one may seem like it comes from out of left field, as Ryan Tannehill wasn’t even in the NFL last season. However, the Vikings reportedly expressed an interest in signing Tannehill this past offseason when they were seeking veteran QBs who wouldn’t require an additional investment in draft compensation or impact their compensatory pick formula.

Signing Tannehill still wouldn’t impact Minnesota’s compensatory pick outcome for the 2026 NFL Draft, and he would bring 151 starts into the QB room. That’s practically like having another coach, except the Vikings may feel the former Pro Bowl QB can still protect the ball and move the chains with efficiency on the field too.

While there are better options if the Vikings’ backup QB had to hit the field, Tannehill’s veteran experience would be invaluable for a young player like McCarthy. Yet, if there’s one thing we know about KOC, it’s that we can trust his QB plans, whatever they may be.

For now, the Vikings have Brett Rypien on the depth chart as the QB2. While the nephew of former Washington QB Mark Rypien is a 28-year-old veteran, he’s only made four starts in his NFL career and he’s not expected to be the final answer as McCarthy’s backup.

Top Remaining Minnesota Vikings QB options for 2025

At some point between now and the start of training camp, the Minnesota Vikings will be adding another veteran quarterback to the roster. The move is expected to happen at some point after April 28 at 3 p.m. CDT, when free agency pickups will no longer play into their 2026 comp pick formula.

That is unless they decide to trade for their new quarterback, which could be just as likely as the Vikings adding one in free agency. So below, we rank the best remaining QB options for the MN Vikings, with less than two weeks remaining before the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on April 24.

5. Teddy Bridgewater

Who could forget Teddy B? The Vikings’ former first-round pick has bounced around from team to team since suffering his career-altering knee injury in 2016. After spending parts of the past two seasons backing up Jared Goff on the Detroit Lions, the 32-year-old Bridgewater is a free agent again.

He’s not the type of player that will help the Vikings win games by himself, but Bridgewater’s tendency to make the right play while protecting the football could appeal to Kevin O’Connell. Plus, we already know he’ll be great in the locker room and would have no issue teaching young McCarthy everything he needs to know.

The question is, will Bridgewater head back to retirement as he did during the early portion of the 2024 season, or is he open to returning to where his career started?

Related: Rival Execs Continue to Question Minnesota Vikings Power Structure

4. Carson Wentz

This is not a joke. Carson Wentz, a former No. 2 overall pick, finished third in MVP voting in 2017, his second season in the NFL. Yet, after suffering multiple ankle injuries, Wentz’ athletic abilities started to diminish.

The last time we saw Wentz as a consistent starter came in 2022 when he led the Commanders to a 2-5 record while having 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, even though he’s now 32, Wentz got to spend last season as Patrick Mahomes’ primary backup, getting a first-hand experience in Andy Reid’s offense.

If he was good enough to be the top backup for a team attempting to three-peat as Super Bowl champions, Wentz should be good enough to back up McCarthy too. Plus, Wentz’s unique NFL career has seen several ups and downs, which could be a great way for him to relate to Minnesota’s new starter after McCarthy was forced to miss his entire rookie season due to injury.

Related: Sportsbooks Not Buying the Draft Plans Kwesi and the MN Vikings are Selling…

3. Ryan Tannehill

The Vikings made a point to note how they’re keeping the NFL’s compensatory pick formula in mind when shopping for a new backup quarterback. If so, Ryan Tannehill should be seen as a viable option. They’ve even already spoken to him.

He didn’t even play last season, which means the Vikings could sign him without having to worry about their future draft picks being impacted by the NFL’s complicated compensatory pick process.

However, Tannehill’s overall body of work remains impressive enough that the Vikings should have some level of interest in the former Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins starter. He’ll turn 37 before the season kicks off, but Tannehill brings 11 seasons of starting experience to the table.

Known for his success with play-action passing, Tannehill would be stepping into the most high-powered offense he’s ever been a part of. If he’s still interested in playing football, Tannehill should be the one calling the Vikings, not the other way around.

Related: What Does Mel Kiper’s Latest Mock Tell Us About Vikings Draft Plans?

2. Kirk Cousins

Of course Kirk Cousins — who turns 37 in August — needs to be on this list. Sure, he’s being held hostage by the Atlanta Falcons for a full year now, but one of the greatest QBs in Minnesota Vikings history reportedly plans to waive his no-trade clause, after the 2025 NFL Draft ends.

This way, he can avoid future draft night surprises, like what he experienced last year, a month after arriving in Atlanta. Plus, if a trade happens after the draft, that would actually benefit the Vikings since they’re armed with just four selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Trading a 2026 pick for the four-time Pro Bowler shouldn’t be out of the question. Teams may be scared away from Cousins’ $27.5 million salary for 2025, but the Vikings have the advantage of having McCarthy on an affordable rookie deal, allowing them to spend a bit more for a high-quality backup like Cousins.

most accurate QBs when kept clean:

1. Jalen Hurts
2. Jared Goff
3. Gardner Minshew
4. Geno Smith
5. Joe Burrow
6. Sam Darnold
7. Derek Carr
8. Russell Wilson
9. Brock Purdy
10. Kyler Murray
11. Joe Flacco
12. Kirk Cousins
13. Drake Maye
14. Justin Herbert
15. Daniel Jones
16.…

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 12, 2025

Plus, once again, the Vikings already know what type of competitive teammate they’d be adding back into the locker room, and McCarthy getting to see how Cousins prepares week in, week out, could be a valuable lesson that the 22-year-old never forgets.

Yet, if we’re being real, Cousins should be getting a crack at a starting role with a team like the Cleveland Browns. However, after the Browns signed Joe Flacco, they may have closed the door on reuniting Kevin Stefanski with Cousins too. As a result, Cousins coming back to his second home in Minnesota could be the perfect way to close out his career.

Report: Vikings + Kirk Cousins Reunion is Not Out of the Question

1. Aaron Rodgers

Love him or hate him, Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback available. If he’s legitimately interested in joining the Vikings at a reasonable rate, the front office shouldn’t turn down the advances of a four-time NFL MVP.

Rodgers didn’t light it up in his lone season with the New York Jets. But neither did Kirk Cousins, and both players were coming off a torn Achilles. Perhaps another season removed from the season-ending surgery will help Rodgers return to top form.

Either way, Rodgers still didn’t have a terrible season, finishing with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The Vikings would likely be thrilled with that type of production, knowing the rest of their roster is in a position to find success.

If the Vikings wanted to know more about how Rodgers operates within a locker room, they could just ask Aaron Jones, his teammate for six seasons in Green Bay. Skeptics may speak to the drama that tends to follow the future Pro Football Hall of Famer, but his former teammates clearly don’t have an issue with him.

Jamien Sherwood is asked what it's like not having Aaron Rodgers around anymore:

"He taught everybody in this building a lot…he helped created a standard for myself and those other guys. He left a mark on all of us." pic.twitter.com/iVa9lPXmnz

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) April 9, 2025

Of course, there’s some downside involved with bringing Rodgers aboard. He’d be signed and expected to start, not operate as a backup to someone who’s never played an NFL down.

Yet, no matter how you feel about the former Packers quarterback, the Vikings would be foolish to turn down someone who has already proven he can win a Super Bowl when they have a roster ready to compete.

Related: Vikings Getting Cocky About Their Medical Staff

Now Kevin O’Connell is set to roll with the young quarterback, but the Vikings still need a backup QB for their 2025 quarterback room. Brett Rypien isn’t going to be that guy, and Aaron Rodgers is out of the picture, at least fo now.

Ryan Tannehill emerges as an option for the Minnesota Vikings

The MN Vikings have also touched base with Joe Flacco, who currently represents one of the better options remaining on the market. But he isn’t the only veteran the Vikings have their eye on. On Friday, according to Jordan Schultz (FOX Sports) another previously discussed option has been in talks with Minnesota, as well — Former Titans and Dolphins QB, Ryan Tannehill.

Sources: The #Vikings have had discussions with former #Titans QB Ryan Tannehill about a potential deal. Talks are ongoing and nothing is imminent as of right now, sources tell @NFLonFOX. pic.twitter.com/yF71IYo9Pg

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 21, 2025

Tannehill was taken 8th overall during the 2012 draft, even though he was already 24 years old, at the time, and in the process of transitioning from wide receiver to quarterback, something that started while he was in his upperclassmen years at Texas A&M.

Related: Former MN Vikings Tight End Off to LA

Last season, the 11-year NFL veteran wasn’t even in the league. But now, the 36-year-old is ready to get back into it, even at his advanced age. Tannehill has played in 155 games in that time, including 151 starts. He’s thrown for a total of 34,881 yards with 216 touchdowns and 115 interceptions. His career completion percentage is a mediocre 64.3%.

Don't think Ryan Tannehill gets enough credit for how he tough he is in the pocket. There are so many examples of him standing in and taking huge shots as he delivers strikes down the field. pic.twitter.com/CQFOmfsMdf

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) June 2, 2021

The Minnesota Vikings would also be getting a dual-threat quarterback in Tannehill. It remains to be seen how much he would scamper during this late stage of his career, but has compiled 2,103 yards on the ground with 27 touchdowns thus far. In his last season, 2023, Tannehill ran 17 times for only 74 yards and a score.

In comparison to Flacco, Tannehill would represent a “bit” more of a youthful option. Although he hasn’t experienced the same level of success, he has seen plenty of different circumstances at the highest level. Tannehill would be able to provide McCarthy with legitimate backup help, while keeping the pressure off McCarthy for the most part.

MN Vikings must land a backup quarterback

Regardless of whether it is Tannehill, Flacco, or someone else, the Minnesota Vikings still must address their quarterback room. A desire to distance themselves from Dianna Russini’s continued reporting, that they might sign Aaron Rodgers is logical, but a backup option has to be brought in soon.

J.J. McCarthy seems to be trending in a positive direction, and his former teammates are excited for his future. Kevin O’Connell has to safeguard himself for another possible injury, though. Daniel Jones could have been that option but didn’t see the vision and went to Indianapolis.

Related: Former MN Vikings DB Gushes Over JJ McCarthy

At the end of the day it makes sense for the Vikings to line up a contingency plan over the course of the next month. What that looks like could take some time. Tannehill makes sense as a name to keep in the fold, but he certainly is not the only option.

But on Wednesday, the latest report from Tom Pelissero (The Athletic) put the Rodgers + Vikings rumors to bed, at least for now, tweeting out that the Vikings are no longer considering the 4X MVP as their QB for 2025… at least for now.

There’s still a belief among insiders, specifically The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, that the MN Vikings may revisit the Rodgers conversations later this offseason, if they don’t like what they see from McCarthy over the next month or two.

Veteran QBs Minnesota Vikings fans should watch…

Nonetheless, it’s at least time to look at what else is available on the QB market, now that the likelihood Rodgers wears purple is seemingly less and less. Per reports, Vikings are considering remaining free agents and possible trades. And one insider, Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) has some targets that fans should keep an eye out for.

Goessling, who grew up in Minnesota and graduated from the U of M, talked more in-depth about both quarterbacks on KFAN Radio Tuesday, and tweeted out the names on Wednesday — 40-year-old, Joe Flacco and 36-year-old, Ryan Tannehill. Ben also notes that “the comp pick formula matters here”.

Said it with @PAOnTheMic yesterday, but here’s where I’d keep my eye for #Vikings backup QB options: a veteran with a clear role like Flacco or Tannehill, or a trade. The comp pick formula matters here. They’re also excited about where J.J. McCarthy is at.

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) March 19, 2025

Need a rough explanation of the “comp pick formula”? Most NFL free agents signed this time of year play into next offseason’s formula. The full details of the comp pick formula are unknown. But in essence, the comp pick formula is used to grant teams ravaged by free agency additional draft picks, to try and make up for their losses.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Out on Aaron Rodgers… For Now

The formula takes every team’s signed free agents + their lost free agents and compares them side-by-side in order to decide how many comp picks a team gets, and where they are slotted (between the back of the 3rd and 7th rounds).

What would Joe Flacco or Ryan Tannehill bring to Vikings?

Last season with the Indianapolis Colts, Joe Flacco appeared in 8 games (6 starts), passing for 1,761 yards, a 65.3% completion rate, 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The 2023 Comeback Player of the Year has thrown for 45,697 yards, 257 touchdowns and 162 interceptions. According to previous reports, the Minnesota Vikings have already been incontact with Flacco this offseason.

Ryan Tannehill is a more interesting QB for Goessling to name, being he hasn’t played in the NFL since 2023, when he started 8 games for the Tennessee Titans, tossing for 1,616 yards with an ugly 4/7 touchdown/interception ratio and a 64.8% completion rate.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Hire Former NFL QB as Defensive Assistant

Tannehill last threw for over 3,000 yards in 2021, when he was 33 years old. The former college wide receiver turned quarterback at Texas A&M peaked as an NFL QB in 2019, when he too won Comeback Player of the Year by throwing for 3,819 yards, 33 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions (67.2% cmp), earning him his only Pro Bowl and All Pro appearances of his career.