Getty
Former Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr.
The Minnesota Vikings are adding a quarterback or two this offseason to compete with JJ McCarthy, but they may have to reach well beyond the normal avenues to find the right man.
Nick Shook followed up a report from NFL Media insiders on Super Bowl Sunday, noting that “momentum appears to be building” with regards to former Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr coming out of retirement for the 2026 campaign.
Shook asserted on Wednesday, February 11 that the Vikings, given their situation under center, are among the top four landing spots for Carr should he suit back up after one year off.
“McCarthy didn’t cement his role as the Vikings’ franchise quarterback in his first season as their starter and has plenty of work ahead of him this offseason,” Shook wrote. “Carr would address Minnesota’s need for a proven veteran capable of handling the job … and could also push McCarthy in camp.”
Competition With JJ McCarthy for QB1 Job Could Turn Derek Carr Off Vikings
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy.
The group of pass-catchers in Minnesota, along with head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense, should provide plenty of incentive for Carr and serve as advantages over other teams that might be interested, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Jets.
But the Vikings present a couple of unfortunate drawbacks as well.
“Ultimately, this fit might depend on whether Carr is interested in competing for a job, or if he’d rather walk into a situation that has him penciled in as QB1,” Shook continued. “Money matters, too, and the Vikings have a salary cap hole to dig out of before they can start thinking about Carr.”
Minnesota is currently more than $40 million over the 2026 salary cap.
Derek Carr Could Command Annual Salary in Range of What Steelers Paid Aaron Rodgers Last Season
GettyPittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Carr played 11 years in the NFL before retiring following the 2024 campaign. Next year represents his age-35 season.
He finished his career with 41,245 yards on 65.1 percent passing, adding 257 TDs and 112 INTs. He posted a win/loss record of 77-92 in regular-season play and went 0-1 in the playoffs, his sole trip coming after the Raiders’ 10-7 campaign in 2021.
Carr made four Pro Bowls during his time in the league and finished third in MVP voting following the 2016 season. He inked a four-year contract with the Saints in March 2023 worth a total of $150 million before retiring abruptly in June 2025.
The Saints retained his player rights in 2025, paying Carr $10 million for the season despite his departure from the sport. All told, Carr has earned $210 million during his career.
As to what amount of money he might demand to return to the field, those figures are murkier. However, Aaron Rodgers‘ one-year agreement with the Steelers in 2025 could serve as a starting point for Carr in 2026 coming off a year on the sidelines and entering the back half of his 30s without super high demand for his services around the league.
Rodgers inked a deal worth $13.65 million, turning 42 years old late in the year (December). Rodgers could also end up competition for the gig in Minnesota this offseason should he decide to continue playing and move on from Pittsburgh following the resignation of former head coach Mike Tomlin.
Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible
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