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Vikings Predicted to Add $180 Million QB to Compete With J.J. McCarthy

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nathan Dougherty | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 6:10 PM ET

The Minnesota Vikings made a big quarterback decision this offseason, letting Sam Darnold leave in free agency after a career-best season and making a big bet on J.J. McCarthy.

But one insider believes the Vikings could still look for a steady hand ahead of the second-year McCarthy, pegging Minnesota as a top landing spot for Kirk Cousins.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report listed the Vikings as one of the most likely teams to trade for Cousins, who is suddenly expendable after the Atlanta Falcons decided to go forward with Michael Penix as their starting quarterback. Even though Cousins signed a $180 million deal with Atlanta, he is believed to be on the trade block this summer.

"The Vikings have turned to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season following knee surgery," Knox wrote. "If head coach Kevin O'Connell doesn't believe McCarthy is ready to start toward the end of camp, he could consider adding a familiar face in Cousins."

Adding Cousins could put some pressure on McCarthy, who missed his rookie season with a right knee injury and watched Darnold replace him with a bounce-back season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes that McCarthy has a good situation in Minnesota, but will still be under pressure to prove himself.

“He also has advantages that others don’t,” Schefter noted during a recent episode of NFL Live. “McCarthy has a great coaching staff with Kevin O’Connell and Josh McCown and one of the league’s best group of receivers led by Justin Jefferson.

“It’s time for JJ McCarthy to validate the Vikings’ faith in him.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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