Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell looks to add depth, competition to QB room during 2026 offseason

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is pushing for a deeper quarterback roster in 2026 following a challenging 2025 season where the team cycled through three quarterbacks. The team finished with a 9-8 record after second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy played only 10 games due to injuries, including a significant knee injury in 2024 that caused him to miss his entire rookie season. Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also started games for the Vikings last season.

O'Connell emphasized the importance of competition within the quarterback room to improve the overall performance of the offense. He expressed optimism about McCarthy's improvement in the latter part of the season but noted the necessity of a reliable veteran presence to support his development.

The Vikings had aimed to bring back Sam Darnold and retain Daniel Jones last offseason, but both quarterbacks signed with other teams. Efforts to trade for Sam Howell were unsuccessful, leaving the team with Wentz and Brosmer. The upcoming veteran free