Recent reports on the Vikings’ quarterback depth chart suggested they would keep UDFA rookie Max Brosmer as their QB2 behind starter J.J. McCarthy. That may not be the case, however.
Although Minnesota allowed Sam Darnold to walk in free agency this offseason, the club did attempt to retain Daniel Jones, who turned down a more lucrative offer from the Vikes to join the Colts (a wise decision, in hindsight). And, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter observes, the Vikings did want a veteran backup for McCarthy this year, which is why they tried to re-sign Jones and why they already had a deal lined up with Carson Wentz when they traded Sam Howell in August (Howell himself was acquired by Minnesota via trade just four months prior).
Wentz served as an injury replacement for McCarthy over the Vikings’ last five games, winning two of them. The former No. 2 overall pick is now done for the season due to a shoulder injury, but McCarthy is now healthy and is set to return to his place in the starting lineup. For the time being, Brosmer is McCarthy’s clipboard holder, and recent acquisition John Wolford will operate as the third signal-caller.
Schefter’s sources say Minnesota’s thought process with respect to its QB2 role has not really changed. The team is said to be high on Brosmer, but a veteran passer would be welcome nonetheless, according to Schefter.
With the 2025 trade deadline just two days away, the Vikings would need to act quickly to make that happen. Familiar face and current Falcon Kirk Cousins, who recently underwhelmed in a one-game relief appearance for Michael Penix Jr., would make sense. As Schefter confirms, though, Atlanta has shown no inclination to trade last year’s free agent prize and seems unlikely to change its stance in that regard.
The Giants’ Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston have long been floated as trade candidates, and rookie Jaxson Dart’s ascent to Big Blue’s starting quarterback gig has solidified the veterans’ status as potential trade bait. It is fair to wonder, as Schefter does, if one of those two players could be on the move in the next 48 hours or so.
The Giants trading one if their backups nakes do much sense.
They should have done it by now.
I just don’t think anyone is interested in Wilson. Winston is a vibes guy and both are assisting in Dart’s development. Honestly I’d rather keep them if they’re only bringing back a 6th or 7th. You see Winston and Wilson going over stuff with Dart on the sidelines. Seems as valuable to me as a 6th rounder.
It is valuable to have a vet, I agree. But you don’t need two.
You also have coaches.
If someone wants to offer a 5 or 6 ( maybe some type of pick swap) it makes sense to me.
Who will be the next recruit to the Kevin O’Connell school of broken quarterbacks?
They should have signed Rodgers to begin with, in my opinion, but I wasn’t of the school of thought that McCarthy was really ready to take Minnesota deep this year. I don’t think Wilson fits with O’Connell, and the Giants seem to keep Winston. The rest of the available options look backup level, or haven’t proven much. The ones who may not be are probably too expensive (like Cousins or Tagovailoa). There are a host of veterans with histories as backup/spot starts (Mills would have been on this list, if not for Stroud’s injury), such as Mike White (who actually I think would fit).
I doubt that Denver would give up Stidham, but he’s a player that nobody probably talks about as a veteran backup, and fits that profile. There’s not a slam dunk that looks available who wouldn’t be expensive (like Cousins). Would Baltimore trade Cooper Rush with Jackson back and Huntley signed, since Rush never really fit their system anyway?
I honestly think that Rattler would have been an interesting choice, though he’s not quite a veteran. The Saints look to have handed over the reigns to Shough, and they can easily find another backup (including, say, their former project in Haener) on a team that’s trying to collect picks as is.
It is a waste of time to trade do a veteran. Their playoff hopes are barely alive. 3 more loses with or without a veteran and they are not making the playoffs. They are not going 8-2 with Wilson or Winston.
Josh Johnson needs a Vikings jersey to add to his closet collection 🙂
That guys gotta be 65 by now. Wasn’t Warren Sapp still playing when the Buccaneers drafted him?