Heading into the 2026 offseason, the Minnesota Vikings face difficult questions at the quarterback position. With uncertainty surrounding whether J.J. McCarthy is the long-term answer, several free-agent signal-callers have already begun to emerge as potential options for Minnesota.
Ex-Vikings Great Rejects Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr as Viable Rivals for J.J. McCarthy
On Sunday, Feb. 15, Vikings legend John Randle appeared on the Minnesota sports show, SKOR North. During the conversation, Randle was asked about Derek Carr and Kirk Cousins as two potential QB options for 2026.
The Hall of Famer made it apparent that he wasn’t a fan of either option, saying, “I’m not a big fan of Derek Carr… they’re talking about Kirk Cousins coming back… we’ve been down that road.” In reference to Cousins, he added, “We want to move on from you. … You have one playoff game. … I want more.”
Wow: Vikings legend John Randle does NOT want Minnesota to acquire Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr this offseason.
“We’ve been down that road before. No. We want to move on from you… You have what, maybe one playoff game? I want more.”
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 15, 2026
Thereafter, Randle closed bluntly, stating what he’d want in a new quarterback: “A guy who can manage the offense.”
The first name mentioned, Carr, last played in the NFL in 2024. In 10 starts for the New Orleans Saints, the veteran QB posted a 5-5 record while passing for 2,145 yards and 15 touchdowns, with only five interceptions. According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, Carr ranked No. 13.
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After announcing his retirement last spring and sitting out the 2025 season, Carr appears ready for a return in 2026. However, in his age-35 season, it will be difficult to predict whether he can return to form.
As for Kirk Cousins, he has spent the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, finishing No. 20 and No. 30 among QBs, respectively, according to PFSN. Now, ahead of 2026 free agency, Atlanta is expected to release the 37-year-old QB. Notably, Cousins, a Viking for six seasons between 2018 and 2023, has been heavily rumored to return to the franchise.
In his last season with Minnesota in 2023, he started eight games, recording 2,331 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to a mere 5 interceptions. Unfortunately, Cousins’ season was cut short due to an Achilles tear, but he still ranked No. 10 among all QBs in that small sample, per PFSN.
Between McCarthy, Carr, Cousins, and the rest of the available options this spring, Minnesota will have to be thorough in its QB search. As Randle put it, the Vikings need “a guy who can manage the offense.”
Assuming head coach Kevin O’Connell and the rest of Minnesota’s staff make the correct decision, they will undoubtedly be a team to watch in the NFC.
