Vikings predicted to replace J.J. McCarthy with a former Minnesota QB

The frustrating thing for the Minnesota Vikings is that so much of their roster is very good.

Just not quarterback.

That led to an expensive team missing the playoffs in 2025, and it could happen again if the Vikings aren't careful.

That will make J.J. McCarthy, and a potential replacement for him, a major discussion point this offseason. Minnesota needs to get this right.

ESPN's Seth Walder wrote in a new article Wednesday that he doesn't see McCarthy starting in Week 1 for Minnesota.

Instead, he sees the Vikings turning to Kirk Cousins.

Cousins isn't the QB he was when he previously played for the Vikings, and he's currently still under contract with the Falcons. But assuming Atlanta releases him as expected, Minnesota could be interested.

"The Vikings managed 14 wins in 2024 with a quarterback (Sam Darnold) who ranked only 14th in QBR," Walder writes. "While they won't always have a defense as dominant as that team had, I have to imagine Minnesota is hankering for palatable quarterback play. J.J. McCarthy's performance last season did not indicate he could deliver it... The Falcons are expected to release Cousins. Once they do, the Vikings might take him back."

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Cousins wouldn't automatically get the starting job if he signed with Minnesota. There'd likely be a camp competition between him and McCarthy.

But given the fact that Cousins has been there and done that in the purple and gold, he'd have a great chance of winning the job.

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