The Minnesota Vikings‘ quarterback situation is taking clearer shape as training camp progresses, though not yet in the way the team hoped.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported Monday, July 28, what other NFL analysts had speculated might be a concern: the ability of backup QB Sam Howell to provide an adequate insurance blanket behind second-year signal-caller/presumed starter J.J. McCarthy.
Based on Howell’s play, Minnesota is conceivably more likely to look for another quarterback via free agency or a trade. That move, if it comes, will probably be a modest addition — perhaps a deal swapping a Day-3 pick to the Cleveland Browns for one of their veterans after that competition shakes out, or a more costly option like a deal with the Atlanta Falcons for Kirk Cousins represents.
However, the Vikings could swing bigger if the opportunity arises. One possibility might be Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts, who now appears well on his way to losing the starting job in Indy to Daniel Jones.
Colts, Anthony Richardson Approaching Point of No Return
Richardson missed 13 games during his rookie campaign due to injury. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft then lost his spot for several weeks last season to veteran Joe Flacco by way of a coach’s decision.
Richardson entered this offseason in competition for the Colts’ QB1 job with Jones, who spent several weeks with the Vikings in 2024, though never actually saw the field. Minnesota hoped to keep him around as the No. 2 behind McCarthy, but a $14 million offer drew Jones to Indianapolis, which led Minnesota to trade a fifth-round pick swap to the Seattle Seahawks to bring in Howell.
Richardson hurt his shoulder early in the preseason, and Jones has performed well in his absence. The general consensus among league insider is now that Jones is firmly in the driver’s seat for the starting job, which leaves Richardson’s future in serious question, as the Colts must decide by next spring whether to exercise the fifth-year team option of his $34 million rookie contract.
None of those variables add together to equal Richardson as the kind of player the Vikings would look for to back up McCarthy, though there is a longer-term case for the 23-year-old QB as a potential starter in Minnesota given his elite arm strength and mobility.
Anthony Richardson Represents Longterm Bet for Vikings as J.J. McCarthy Competition
Richardson’s represents a chance for the Vikings to make a big bet on big talent who can potentially provide the franchise with optionality under center if McCarthy doesn’t work out.
However, Howell is Minnesota’s immediate problem based on Lewis’ early analysis.
“The best way to sum up Howell’s performance is a beat too slow,” Lewis wrote. “It feels fair to say that Howell hasn’t consistently pulled the trigger promptly.”
Despite Howell’s struggles and the immediate need for the Vikings staff to fix them or find a replacement, there is also no telling what type of player McCarthy will be after he missed the entirety of his rookie campaign with a knee injury.
Richardson’s upside is as a longterm bet, as development under a head coach like Kevin O’Connell is precisely what he needs. Minnesota could theoretically acquire Richardson at a bargain price if the Colts burn the already singed bridge between organization and quarterback by giving his job away for a second consecutive season.
But if the opportunity to deal for Richardson presents itself, which it might, taking a flier on a player of his talent level on a rookie deal is advisable for a team that knows it can develop QBs. Minnesota could then look for a stop-gap veteran like Carson Wentz, whom they could pay a couple million dollars as a Howell replacement.
Lewis noted the Vikings have more rope to extend Howell to see if he can improve. But if he doesn’t, Minnesota is a prime candidate to make a QB move in August.
Moving on from Howell will be inexpensive. And the best reclamation projects in sports tend to be high-end talents who went to bad situations and need a different environment to thrive, all of which describes Richardson.
