The Minnesota Vikings are being deliberate in their search for a veteran quarterback, opting to wait until after the 2025 NFL Draft before making a move. This decision is tied to the team’s compensatory draft pick strategy, as signing a quarterback too soon could impact the compensatory selections Minnesota is set to receive in 2026.
Despite this approach, J.J. McCarthy remains the projected starter for the Vikings in 2025, giving the former first-round pick an opportunity to establish himself as the team’s long-term answer under center. However, the organization had previously pursued several veteran quarterbacks. Minnesota attempted to re-sign Sam Darnold, but he chose to join the Seattle Seahawks as their unquestioned starter. After missing out on Darnold, the Vikings engaged in a bidding war for Daniel Jones, only to lose out to the Indianapolis Colts.
Following these setbacks, reports surfaced that Minnesota considered signing Aaron Rodgers. However, internal disagreements about pairing the future Hall of Famer with McCarthy led the team to pass on the four-time MVP.
For now, the Vikings have a variety of backup quarterbacks available in free agency, but they are deliberately waiting to preserve their draft capital. As NFL insider Charles Robinson explained on Yahoo Sports’ Inside Coverage podcast, signing a veteran too early could jeopardize Minnesota’s third- and fifth-round compensatory picks.
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Once the 2025 NFL Draft concludes, the Vikings are expected to bring in an experienced signal-caller. One potential fit mentioned by Robinson is Carson Wentz, who backed up Matthew Stafford with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023 and is already familiar with Kevin O’Connell’s offensive system. Unlike some other veteran quarterbacks, Wentz would likely be more willing to accept a backup role behind McCarthy.
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