What the Minnesota Vikings will do with their QB situation will be one of the talking points surrounding the team this offseason. In the 2025 NFL season, the Vikings went with J.J. McCarthy, a rollercoaster ride filled with highs and lows.
As a result, Minnesota need to ask itself whether it wants to find someone more consistent under center, as it has a squad looking to compete right now. Now, what type of signal-caller they will pursue remains to be seen.
Will they pursue a proven starter to challenge McCarthy or a reliable backup to help the Michigan product, who understands he’s QB2? Amid this decision, former Vikings pass-catcher Kyle Rudolph believes that before the Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski, Kirk Cousins returning for a second act made so much sense for Minnesota.
“I do think Kirk would be a guy that would make sense back in Minnesota, but I just don’t see him getting out of Atlanta,” Rudolph said on the Jan. 20 edition of “Up & Adams.” “He’s under, we’re willing to pay him $45 million to be the backup, and now you bring in a head coach and a play caller that he’s very familiar with. So I don’t see him getting out of Atlanta.”
Vikings Need QB to Compete With J.J. McCarthy
Although Cousins is unlikely to join the Vikings, Rudolph is urging his former team to find a QB who can push McCarthy. Moreover, by his remarks, it doesn’t sound like Rudolph wants Minnesota to settle on a signal-caller who is content with being QB2.
“I think they have to bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with J.J. I think it’s a big mistake that they made last year, just handing over the reins and not having a veteran to compete with them,” Rudolph added. “There certainly were a few options, one of which is playing this weekend in the NFC Championship game. Another one, in Daniel Jones, was in the locker room last year.
“I’m a huge fan of and absolutely love his game. And this doesn’t mean that J.J. can’t be your quarterback of the future, but just handing him over a Super Bowl caliber roster and saying, ‘Okay, go for it,’ and not having a veteran that is in that room and competing against them, I ultimately think that you’re not setting him up for success.”
Minnesota Told to Follow Green Bay Blueprint for QBs
Moreover, Rudolph suggested that the Vikings should’ve followed the Green Bay Packers model of having a QB sit and observe for a couple of seasons before handing the young player the starting job.
“We’ve seen it so many times with the Jordan Loves and Aaron Rodgers,” Rudolph added. “We lived it in the NFC North for two straight decades because of the way the Packers transitioned their quarterbacks.
“I think the Vikings organization realizes that they’re set up to win right now, and J.J. can still be the guy. Ultimately, we can see another veteran quarterback, maybe a guy who’s trying to find a home, has played good football, but would be willing to come in on a one-year deal and compete.”
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