This week's PFR mailbag explores the Vikings' QB outlook, Drake Maye's MVP case, some of the top 2026 head coaching candidates and more.
Jordan asks:
The Vikings look to have made the wrong bet on J.J. McCarthy. With a few reclamation-project QBs having success in recent years, what options do you think will be there for in-house competition in Minnesota come 2026?
I should probably start this by stating the obvious: it is way too early to fully declare McCarthy a bust this early into his career. He has made just six regular-season starts to date after not seeing the field at all as a rookie.
That will rightfully give McCarthy a bit of leeway overall, but it’s undeniable he hasn’t developed as hoped so far. I had relatively high expectations in his case entering the season based not on his college career but rather head coach Kevin O’Connell’s track record of getting the most out of his quarterbacks. In that sense, there’s plenty of time for things to turn around.
FIRE koc!
The Vikings would be crazy to do that.
Can you guys copy and paste the article into the comments? Thanks
So I can get flagged. No thanks.
That would be the worst head coaching decision in recent memory. Not only would you be using him as a scapegoat, you have to recognize depth concerns and getting unlucky injury-wise at the most important position. Then you have to factor in how you would almost assuredly hire a worse option based on the hit rate at HC. And remember, Minnesota offered Daniel Jones more $ than Indy, so it’s not like they failed to try to cover the QB position. Had that happened, they might be 1st in the division.
On top of all of this, KOC is an extremely strong Xs and Os coach. He would undoubtedly get another HC job in the offseason due to that and his ability to get the most out of players offensively. Minnesota would then have to deal with the optics of him turning another team around–particularly offensively–while Minnesota more than likely stalls out.
It makes no sense to move on. Write it off as a bad year, use that high pick to add a near-elite talent, and compete next season.
The idea that a team can’t have a down year–let alone in a very tough division–without having to fire their coach is very stupid.
The impatience of fans across the league is baffling. Now a team coming off a Super Bowl championship can’t start 8-3, be atop the division, then lose to a tough team on the rise without getting booed off their home field. It’s almost like both teams are trying to win but only one can!
Five of eleven games where the offense scored less than 20 points. One game averaging over 6 yards a carry but called 40 passes with an inaccurate passer. Mayo was fired in New England and Vrabel in Tennessee. What’s so different? koc has not won a playoff game in 4 years and has appeared outmatched in big games. The roster is loaded with good talent. The play calling is very suspect and why play a qb thats obviously NOT getting it done? I guess NE was stupid for making a change.
The Vikings need a new coach!
Perhaps they can send scouts to Winnipeg in search of another Bud Grant 🙂
Whatever works because they have a “win now” roster, so playing a qb thats not getting it done IS STUPID. Give the next guy a chance instead of accepting another loss. “Just win and right now!”