The Minnesota Vikings are suitors for the top-ranked quarterback in the 2026 free-agent class, who is also a recent member of the organization.
Minnesota brass has been public about its intentions to bring in competition for quarterback JJ McCarthy as he heads into his third NFL season. Ironically, the Vikings had two quality options to challenge McCarthy at the end of last season in Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, but let both of them go.
Jones led the Indianapolis Colts to an 8-4 start to the year before suffering a season-ending injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14, while Darnold will start the Super Bowl for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, February 8.
There is no chance the Vikings are going to get Darnold back in 2026, though there is a chance they could reunite with Jones who is heading to free agency following his injury.
“An Achilles injury in Week 14 could delay Jones’ availability at the start of next season, but it’s clear he elevated his level of play and poise under coach Shane Steichen in Indianapolis,” Matt Bowen of ESPN wrote Wednesday, January 28. “Jones’ 64.1 QBR ranked eighth in the league through Week 13, and he threw with a much stronger sense of timing. He fits in an offense that features a good run game, which allows him to operate as a facilitator.”
Bowen dubbed Jones the top free-agent quarterback on the market and the No. 4 free agent across all positions. Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports also ranked Jones the No. 1 free-agent QB and named him the third-ranked free agent in the class.
Pereles predicted that the Colts will sign Jones this offseason, though named the Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals as the two most likely suitors if he doesn’t return to Indy.
Kevin O’Connell, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Under Fire for Letting Sam Darnold Walk in Free Agency
GettyMinnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have come under fire for letting Darnold walk last spring given all of his success with the team’s NFC foe in Seattle.
“The 2018 NFL draft quarterback class was loaded: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield. Sam Darnold is the first quarterback from that class to get to the Super Bowl. That’s stunning,” Jason McIntyre of Fox Sports said Monday. “I mean, you could argue that this is a massive indictment of the Minnesota Vikings front office, and they were all on the clock for bailing on Darnold for JJ McCarthy.”
There have been no repercussions for Adofo-Mesah or O’Connell yet after the team won five straight games down the stretch to finish 9-8. However, critics can argue that Minnesota wasted a playoff-caliber roster in 2025 due to its handling of the QB position, which creates more pressure to fix the issue immediately heading into the upcoming season.
Malik Willis Option for Vikings if They Don’t Land Daniel Jones
GettyGreen Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
If the Vikings can’t get Jones back, the next-best option in free agency is Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis.
Bowen ranked Willis No. 17 in the class.
“With his dual-threat traits and positive signs of development in Green Bay, Willis is one of the top quarterbacks in free agency,” Bowen wrote. “In four appearances (one start) this season, Willis completed 85.7% of his throws, rushed for 123 yards and scored four touchdowns.”
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