The Minnesota Vikings are not far from revealing their quarterback plan, either to sign a veteran as insurance for 23-year-old J.J. McCarthy or to bring in a competitor who could take his job. And in the last few days, we learned Hall of Famer John Randle’s stance — add a competent veteran, but not one like Derek Carr or Kirk Cousins, as the end-all solution.

The Vikings can’t treat the QB2 spot like an afterthought, and John Randle opined on that situation.

Randle sounded wildly unimpressed with the idea of landing Carr or Cousins. He wants a game manager for support, not an old retread QB1 with limited upside.

Randle Wants a Veteran Safety Net Behind McCarthy

Everyone has a Vikings quarterback opinion, as free agency looms three weeks away.

Randle on the Vikings’ QB Strategy

Foremost, Randle said on SKOR North airwaves about Carr and Cousins: “I mean, like, Derek Carr? I’m like — I’m not a big fan of Derek Carr. I’m sorry. He retired. He said he wanted to come back, and then retired on the guys. Talking about Kirk Cousins coming. We’ve been down that road before. No.”

“We want to move on from you. You have what, maybe one playoff game? I want more. It’s finding a quarterback — maybe he’s not that great of a quarterback — but a guy who can manage on the offense.”

Randle also said about McCarthy’s stakes: “If I was the GM, I would definitely give him competition. I’m bringing in competition for him. I would tell him, ‘Last year, you had your chance. We gave it to you. But you didn’t prove that you could really handle it, so we’re gonna bring somebody in who’s definitely gonna give you competition.’”

It’s worth noting that Randle’s opinion isn’t far off from the collective fan sentiment. Most hope McCarthy succeeds, and to do that, he’ll need another audition.

The Comments Translating to This List?

If Randle prefers a quarterback who will merely manage the game and not truly threaten McCarthy’s QB1 post, his list would have to look like this:

• Carson Wentz
• Case Keenum
• Davis Mills (trade)
• Drew Lock (trade)
• Gardner Minshew
• Jake Browning
• Jameis Winston (trade)
• Jimmy Garoppolo
• Joe Flacco
• Kenny Pickett
• Marcus Mariota
• Mitchell Trubisky
• Russell Wilson
• Teddy Bridgewater
• Tyrod Taylor

Otherwise, with more popular targets like Kyler Murray and Mac Jones via trade, those men would assuredly push McCarthy to the edge and take his job.

Probably a Step up from Carson Wentz

After McCarthy’s high ankle sprain last September, Carson Wentz took over as quarterback. Minnesota managed only two wins in his five starts, and their season quickly declined. By mid-December, their playoff aspirations were dashed, effectively rendering Weeks 15 through 18 meaningless. The 2025 season later ended with a 9–8 record.

The disappointing result stemmed from a series of questionable choices: the Vikings hesitated during free agency, bypassed more dependable backup quarterback options, traded for Sam Howell late in the process, and ultimately, when Howell didn’t pan out, signed Wentz as a last resort. This sequence of events drew considerable criticism, which their final record did little to quell.

Therefore, the question heading into 2026 is: if Wentz or somebody similar remains the backup, what will realistically change? The same team structure, the same backup plan, the same potential limitations. To expect a different outcome with the same approach would require a significant leap of faith.

Therefore, according to Randle, the Vikings must find a better quarterback than Wentz, but not an old-ish option like Carr or Cousins.

That’s probably code for someone like Garoppolo or Minshew.

Win-Now Mode?

Of course, the Vikings face this quarterback conundrum at an awkward time for head coach and de facto team CEO Kevin O’Connell. The skipper has been in charge of the enterprise for four seasons, reaching the postseason twice, notching zero playoff wins, and boasting the NFL’s fifth-best regular season win percentage since the start of 2022.

O’Connell may not have the luxury of rolling with McCarthy and a Wentz type. Very few coaches enter Year No. 5 with a team that has no playoff wins to show for it. So, while no member of the Vikings’ ownership has expressly said it, O’Connell is probably on the hot seat to win a playoff game in 2026.

That outlook would suggest he needs a solid quarterback addition — not just Brett Rypien or Sam Howell.

That’s why the offseason is so fascinating — what caliber quarterback will O’Connell seek? A sure-fire starter via trade like Kyler Murray? Or a game manager like Garoppolo?

Randle says a wily game manager behind McCarthy is the special sauce.