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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell looks on against the Tennessee Titans.
The Minnesota Vikings have watched idly as another capable veteran quarterback to support J.J. McCarthy has exited free agency.
As part of their strategy to preserve their two projected compensatory draft picks for the 2026 offseason, the Vikings are not making any more significant moves until May 1, when any free agents signed will not count toward the formula.
However, in their holding pattern, the Vikings let one of their top veteran quarterback options walk to the Cleveland Browns — Joe Flacco.
“Reunion: the Cleveland Browns and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco reached agreement today on a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $13 million with incentives, his agency,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on April 11. “Flacco now will return to Cleveland, where he won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023. Flacco also spoke with the Steelers and Vikings but opted to spend his 18th NFL season with the Browns.”
After the Vikings’ interest in Aaron Rodgers was shelved, Flacco emerged as a top candidate due to his vetted resume.
And, according to a local insider, Flacco had interest in playing for the Vikings previously.
Joe Flacco Wanted to Sign With Vikings as Kirk Cousins Replacement
GettyJoe Flacco previously broached his interest in joining the Vikings in 2023.
When the Vikings were searching for answers at quarterback following Kirk Cousins‘ season-ending Achilles tear in 2023, Flacco put his hat in the ring for Minnesota.
According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Flacco reached out to the Vikings, expressing his interest in joining the team.
However, the Vikings were not interested.
“He wanted to be here,” Wolfson said of Flacco in an X (formerly Twitter) post in December 2023. “Vikings received that message before October 29 turned into October 30. They weren’t interested.”
The Vikings ultimately signed Josh Dobbs, who was signed to add depth to the quarterback room but came in to win a start in relief of rookie Jaren Hall — sparking Dobbs mania for a few weeks before his crash back down to earth.
While Flacco felt like a logical fit for the Vikings, it seems like the interest has always been lukewarm at best for the former Super Bowl MVP quarterback.
Remaining QB Options to Back Up J.J. McCarthy
GettyThe Vikings still need to find a capable backup for J.J. McCarthy
As Flacco becomes the latest veteran quarterback the Vikings have lost out on, there are still several capable options.
The team has held preliminary talks with Ryan Tannehill, as reported by Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Carson Wentz, Tyler Huntley and Drew Lock could also be potential free-agent signings.
Another option would be a draft-day trade. No quarterback is more subject to that potential than Cousins, who was considered a Browns trade target before the Flacco signing.
There aren’t many other veteran quarterbacks who are trade candidates ahead of the draft.
It would be contradictory to the Vikings’ view of McCarthy to bring in another young quarterback to develop, but Anthony Richardson, Will Levis and Trey Lance are all quarterbacks who are facing some uncertainty with their current teams.
Trevor Squire is a sports journalist covering the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Trevor studied journalism at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, making stops at the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @trevordsquire. More about Trevor Squire
