Despite Kevin O’Connell’s persistent support for J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings can’t head into 2026 without a legit veteran to challenge the third-year pro for the job. The former first-round pick has struggled mightily through two seasons, missing 24 games due to multiple injuries. Even when he was healthy, McCarthy was scattershot, completing just 57.6 percent of his passes, sometimes missing by yards, not inches. Unable to keep Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones from leaving last year, Minnesota must bring in a veteran who can, at the very least, push McCarthy for the job — if not outright take it. Potentially bringing back Kirk Cousins, who could be released from Atlanta before free agency, makes a lot of sense for both sides. Cousins played well enough down the stretch and his fit in KOC’s system is obvious.
