The Minnesota Vikings have mostly abandoned the idea of adding quarterback Aaron Rodgers to their roster this offseason.
On Wednesday, March 26, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah met with the media and all but ruled out adding Rodgers behind or next to second-year signal caller J.J. McCarthy. While Adofo-Mensah left a crack in the door for Rodgers to wiggle through later, providing he doesn’t sign elsewhere before then, Minnesota’s message was clear: McCarthy will be the man, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
That left Vikings supporters wondering who would play second fiddle to McCarthy this summer as he attempts to officially win a job that the franchise wants him to have but will require him to earn through competition. Brett Rypien is the only other name currently in the quarterback room, and Minnesota is unlikely to risk starting the season with Rypien as the No. 2 behind McCarthy, who has yet to play a regular-season snap in the NFL.
A number of names that make sense are still available in free agency, but Joe Flacco has emerged as one of the frontrunners, and possibly the most sensible decision, based on other QB situations across the league.
Joe Flacco fits the Vikings’ needs behind J.J. McCarthy.
Flacco is three years older than Tannehill, but he has played recently and with higher success.
Flacco led the Browns to a 4-1 record down the stretch in 2023, propelling the team into the playoffs. He then joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2024 and started six games (eight total appearances), dethroning second-year quarterback and former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson as the starter based solely on performance, rather than injury.
Indy eventually went back to Richardson, but Flacco has proven over the last two seasons that he still has the arm to get the job done when needed. His temperament and experience could serve as the ideal mentor/insurance policy for McCarthy in Minnesota.
Aside from that, Flacco has earned over $180 million in his career, so the Vikings should be able to sign him at a reasonable price. Spotrac estimates Flacco’s market value at $3.2 million for a new one-year contract.
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