For the past two seasons, the Vikings’ QB situation has been straight-up chaotic—like a never-ending game of musical chairs, but with way more stress. Just when it seemed like they had things figured out, boom—another shake-up. A big decision just dropped, and yeah, this one’s got people talking. So, who’s in, who’s out, and what’s next for the squad? Let’s get into it.

Reports confirm that Sam Darnold won’t be returning to Minnesota, with the Seahawks expected to lock him down on a multi-year deal. It’s kinda wild, considering Darnold just had the best season of his career with 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl appearance while leading the Vikings to their best record since 1998. But instead of extending him, Minnesota is going all-in on J.J. McCarthy, meaning Darnold’s gotta find a new home.

Originally, the plan was for McCarthy to learn from the sidelines after being drafted last year. But after suffering a preseason injury, he never got his shot. Now, with Darnold gone, the Vikings are throwing him straight into the fire. No pressure, right?

Since McCarthy is the guy now, the Vikings desperately need a reliable backup. Enter Daniel Jones—a familiar face since he was with the team last season after the Giants cut him loose.

Bringing Jones back makes sense since he already knows the system, but the Colts are also making a strong push for him, so the Vikings might have to fight for it. If Minnesota drops the ball on Daniel Jones, things could get real spicy, real fast. Whispers around the league say they might at least poke around the idea of Aaron Rodgers, and let’s be honest—that move would absolutely break the internet. Rodgers in purple? Feels like something out of a fever dream, but hey, crazier things have happened.

Oh, and don’t sleep on Justin Fields. The Steelers want him back, but Fields is set to test the market. Could the Vikings make a wild move if they miss out on Jones and Rodgers? Probably not, but at this point, the NFL offseason is basically reality TV—full of unexpected plot twists and last-minute betrayals.

One thing that’s set in stone? Kevin O’Connell is betting the house on McCarthy. The guy just coached Minnesota to a 14-3 record, bagged NFL Coach of the Year, and convinced the front office he’s got the blueprint for the future. But now comes the real question—who’s gonna be McCarthy’s insurance policy?

The Vikings’ QB situation has been straight-up chaos for the past two seasons. They’ve run through five different starters, each bringing their own brand of mid. First, it was Kirk Cousins (Achilles injury), then came Joshua Dobbs (four starts), Nick Mullens (three starts), Jaren Hall (two starts), and finally, Sam Darnold. Darnold was the first QB to survive an entire season, but with him packing up, the Vikings are back at square one—no veteran, no safety net, just vibes and a rookie QB.

With free agency about to pop off, Minnesota’s QB drama is must-watch content. McCarthy is officially QB1, but who’s gonna be his backup? One thing’s for sure—whatever the Vikings do next is gonna set the tone for their entire future.

Geno’s gone, QB chaos is unlocked: The league’s in shambles

The QB market is straight-up unhinged right now, and Geno Smith’s trade just sent it into absolute chaos. Seattle now needs a quarterback yesterday, and the biggest name floating around? Sam Darnold. Let’s be real—his time in Minnesota was already on life support, and now that Seattle’s got an opening, the Seahawks are zeroed in on making him their guy.

Smith’s move to the Raiders wasn’t just any trade—it reunited him with Pete Carroll, who’s now calling the shots in Vegas. And here’s the kicker—Smith’s contract could hit $40-45 million per year. The Raiders clearly think he’s their long-term guy, and after last year’s QB circus, they need someone who won’t throw their season off a cliff.

Meanwhile, Seattle is locked in on Darnold. They wouldn’t have dumped Geno without a backup plan, and Darnold is giving bridge QB energy—not flashy. But solid enough to hold it down while they figure out their future.

And the QB chaos doesn’t stop there. The Vikings pulled Joshua Dobbs from the Cardinals last season for a sixth-round pick, and even though he wasn’t the answer, he at least kept things afloat when Kirk Cousins went down. Taylor Heinicke also got moved, going from the Falcons to the Chargers for a 2025 seventh-round pick, where he’ll now be vibing on the bench behind Justin Herbert.

Oh, and the biggest QB rumor right now? Matthew Stafford might be on the move. The Rams basically gave him the green light to find a new squad, and teams like the Steelers, Browns, Raiders, and Giants did lurk around. But here’s the gag—Stafford stayed with the Rams! He said, “I’m excited to be back“.

Long story short? The league’s QB shuffle is absolutely chaotic, and we’re so here for it. The Vikings need a backup. Darnold’s probably heading to Seattle, and teams are scrambling to lock down their guys before it’s too late. And let’s be real—this is just the beginning.