The Minnesota Vikings aren’t making it very mysterious: a different quarterback is on the way. It’s just a matter of who, with free agency less than two weeks away, and what role that man will hold in relation to J.J. McCarthy, the QB1 from 2025. Head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to reporters Tuesday, explaining that his mindset about McCarthy as the long-term QB1 has changed since 2024, mainly because the timeline is different.

McCarthy still sits in front, yet the language points to a shorter leash and a more serious veteran hedge this offseason.

It feels like Minnesota must win now, and McCarthy may not be the safest option to achieve that mission.

What O’Connell’s Word Choice Signals about McCarthy

Another day, another noncommittal quip about McCarthy.

O’Connell on McCarthy

Reporters asked O’Connell if he still views McCarthy as a franchise quarterback, two words he used freely two years ago, and O’Connell replied affirmatively, adding, “It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was in the summer of 2024. And I have a responsibility — we have a responsibility collectively as we put together this team — to make sure that we use the data that we have at this time and the experiences we have.”

If you’re McCarthy, that update is the very definition of bittersweet.

Interim GM Rob Brzezinski Weighs In

When asked about the Vikings’ offseason quarterback plan, Brzezinski aligned on the same page as O’Connell.

“We’re exploring every option that can be out there. What we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective,” he replied.

“A lot of this has been J.J. in unfortunate situations with some of the injuries and things that he’s dealt with, but we’re going to explore every opportunity, and I don’t think there’s anything specifically we’re looking for. We can’t manufacture anything that’s not there. So, No. 1, what are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? All those things. There’s just a lot of factors that go into it.”

Brzezinski also said of his franchise’s new decision-making structure: “We have to have protocol in place, and so the owners have asked me to handle that responsibility if that would occur. But our intent is to have complete and total collaboration … and I think the decisions are going to be pretty easy to make.”

None of that screams extreme loyalty to McCarthy.

An Acknowledgement That There’s No Time to Develop McCarthy?

What exactly does O’Connell’s remark mean?

It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was in the summer of 2024.

In August 2024, Minnesota had drafted McCarthy four months prior, and there was no reason to believe his torn meniscus would spiral into a high ankle sprain, concussion, and broken hand the following season. The guy had no major injury history in high school or college, and in fact, drafting the “healthy guy,” as opposed to Michael Penix Jr., for example, seemed like the wise choice. Almost two years later, McCarthy and Penix Jr. have battled major injuries.

The timeline may be referring to McCarthy’s health and how it jibes with an alleged Super Bowl window. Former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah constructed his competitive rebuild process for Minnesota to aim for a Super Bowl in 2025 and 2026 — if one assumed that McCarthy would pan out.

Instead, the Vikings traded away the quarterback who would later win the Super Bowl, Sam Darnold, while this offseason wondering whether McCarthy would develop into a dependable starter.

In short, O’Connell likely feels the heat to win now or risk losing his job. That’s the real timeline. Minnesota hired him in 2022, and through four seasons, he reached the postseason twice and won no playoff games. Regarding playoff success, it’s go-time for O’Connell. He can’t bet it all on McCarthy.

All Bets off at QB

Earlier in the offseason, ESPN reported that “all bets were off” on McCarthy’s future, meaning the club wouldn’t tie its success to him alone. In theory, they could call about big-fish trades for players like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, or Justin Herbert. They could explore the availability of Kyler Murray and Mac Jones. They could add a veteran like Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr, or Geno Smith.

Every single one of those alternatives feels realistic, especially after the comments from O’Connell and Brzezinski at the Combine. McCarthy will probably be on the roster, but it’s a safe assumption that he’ll fight for the QB1 job — like Anthony Richardson versus Daniel Jones in Indianapolis last summer.