The Vikings enter the 2025 season with a new quarterback corps after allowing Sam Darnold to leave in free agency, joining Seattle instead. JJ McCarthy fills in after a lost season, but the real drama is behind him: Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer have made training camp into a three-horse race for the No. 2 spot. Who comes out before the final preseason game against Tennessee?

JJ McCarthy’s rise has been uneventful, cleared with “really, no limits” (in the words of the head coach) after back-to-back knee surgeries, and he’s received high praise in drills and collaborative sessions with New England. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season due to a meniscus tear in his right knee, yet flashed leadership and arm strength during recent practices, earning confidence from coaches. In the meantime, the backup fray has had genuine fireworks. This includes Howell’s errant tosses, Rypien’s game-high wisdom, and Brosmer’s calm have all taken note as coaches weigh. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has emphasized the open competition, saying, “there’s a reason why we’re playing all three of them,” as the team evaluates QB depth behind McCarthy. This will be McCarthy’s security blanket in Week 1.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been open about his strategy for building JJ McCarthy. He cited that the young quarterback’s mental fortitude and self-critical mindset are invaluable assets. In a recent interview, O’Connell opened up about McCarthy’s personality and his coaching philosophy. “He’s one of those guys that’s probably hardest on himself,” O’Connell described during the Up & Adams Show, as published on X. “Regardless of what I’m like or Josh or Weiss are like with him, he’s going to be extremely tough on himself. His expectations for himself are fairly high, and that is one of the reasons why when you go through the process and attempt to determine a player at that position, you would like to have a guy who has high expectations for himself.”

O’Connell went on to explain the way JJ McCarthy navigates success and adversity, the significance of the quarterback’s reaction to difficult situations. “I care as much about how he reacts to success as he does to the adversity, because we’re going to go through both of those things together,” the coach explained. The experienced coach has witnessed JJ McCarthy’s development in film meetings and practice. He recounted instances where the young quarterback realizes things about his decision-making.

The staff’s faith in JJ McCarthy goes beyond physical health. O’Connell mentioned that the teammates of JJ McCarthy were drawn to his energy and leadership skills, independent of on-field results. This intangible aspect has proven important as the Vikings move past Sam Darnold, who signed with Seattle following a Pro Bowl season in which he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.

O’Connell’s progression path with JJ McCarthy is indicative of his larger philosophy regarding quarterback coaching. The ex-NFL quarterback feels that “organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations,” stressing the need for proper support structures and realistic expectations. This is something that has driven the Vikings’ choice to construct around McCarthy instead of going after veteran candidates. This includes Aaron Rodgers, who signaled that he had interest in playing for Minnesota before signing with another team.

HC’s dilemma with the uncertainty of JJ McCarthy and other QBs

JJ McCarthy’s starting position looks secure, for now. But the Vikings have a far more daunting challenge ahead of them in terms of their backup quarterback situation. Kevin O’Connell has not been able to shut the door on what has quickly become an unexpectedly spirited showdown among Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. “There’s a reason why we’re playing all three of them,” O’Connell explained to reporters in August. “As far as what that means in the overall competition, I would just say it’s still open and we’re trying to figure out what that room is going to look like for the season.”

Competition has been fiercer than anticipated, with Howell’s role as the presumed backup under threat after uneven preseason showings. The erstwhile Washington starter went just 1 for 5 for 13 yards and had an interception against New England. This leaves questions about his mastery of O’Connell’s offense. Brosmer, meanwhile, has impressed coaches with his decision-making and rapid processing, undrafted or not.

O’Connell has lauded Max Brosmer’s head, saying that “he plays with very fast eyes and very rarely puts the ball in harm’s way when he’s doing it, which is a unique trait.” The rookie’s showing in the second preseason game, where he went 15 of 27 for 156 yards, featured some spectacular throws that caught the coaching staff’s eye.

The quarterback depth uncertainty is a major issue for a Vikings club that feels like it has the roster to be a championship contender. With one of the more well-rounded rosters in the NFL, Minnesota cannot afford to see its season disrupted by quarterback injuries. Particularly with JJ McCarthy’s recent injury history. The Tennessee tilt in the last preseason game should give all three candidates competing for reserve duties some important evaluation time.

The Vikings’ strategy toward this competition is an extension of O’Connell’s overall philosophy. It is basically an exhaustive assessment and the development of players, especially with JJ McCarthy. It also identifies the difficulty of constructing depth at the most critical position and attempting to maximize salary cap usage around a young quarterback.