"The Vikings are not ready to give up on J.J. McCarthy, their 2024 first-round pick who missed his rookie season because of a knee injury and struggled mightily through an injury-riddled second season in 2025. But they also aren't ready to hand McCarthy the keys for 2026. The odd quarterback landscape of this offseason makes it difficult to predict where the Vikings land, but if and when someone such as Geno Smith or Kyler Murray gets cut, I could see Minnesota pursuing that kind of passer on a low-cost, one-year prove-it deal."
The 2026 NFL combine in Indianapolis generated significant offseason activity and reporting. Top draft prospects completed workouts and 40-yard dash evaluations while teams executed trades and granted players permission to seek deals. Franchise tags were issued ahead of the Tuesday deadline, and free agency buzz intensified with the legal negotiation window beginning March 9. National reporters gathered intelligence from executives, coaches, agents, scouts, and team sources throughout the week. Key storylines included quarterback decisions for Arizona, Miami, Minnesota, and Indianapolis, potential trades involving A.J. Brown and Maxx Crosby, and strategies for teams that missed the playoffs to return to contention. The Vikings specifically face decisions regarding J.J. McCarthy's future while considering veteran quarterback competition.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]