Vikings settle the quarterback question: Wentz is QB2, McCarthy is the guy
The guessing game is over in Minnesota. The Vikings posted their official depth chart, and it spells out the plan at the sport’s most scrutinized position: J.J. McCarthy is the starter, Carson Wentz is the Vikings backup QB, and rookie Max Brosmer slides in as QB3. That’s youth at the top, experience in reserve, and a surprise riser holding the clipboard — a deliberate balance for a team betting big on a 22-year-old franchise centerpiece.
McCarthy wasn’t drafted 10th overall in 2024 to sit. He arrives with a polished résumé for someone his age: a national title at Michigan, a 27-1 record as a starter, and the highest winning percentage in FBS history at .964. What the Vikings see is a quarterback who can run their system on time — play-action shots, movement throws, and the quick rhythm game that head coach Kevin O’Connell loves. They’re not hiding him. They’re building around him.
That makes Wentz a strategic choice, not just a depth move. He’s a former No. 2 pick who has lived just about every quarterback scenario: early stardom in Philadelphia, an MVP-level run in 2017 before injury, stops in Indianapolis and Washington, and a reset stint with the Rams to close 2023. He’s started a lot of NFL games, he’s been in high-leverage spots, and he understands how to manage a huddle when the plan changes on Tuesday and you’re starting on Sunday.
There’s also the human side. McCarthy shared in May that his fiancée, Katya Kuropas, is expecting in September. Life events don’t care about NFL schedules. Minnesota isn’t expecting drama, but they’re not leaving themselves exposed if McCarthy needs a day, a week, or simply hits a normal rookie speed bump. Wentz gives Minnesota a steady, seen-it-all presence if the season twists.
What does this mean on the field? Continuity. O’Connell doesn’t need a separate offense if Wentz steps in. Both quarterbacks are comfortable under center, turning their back to the defense on play-action, and working full-field reads from the pocket or on the move. Wentz brings a big arm and red-zone size. McCarthy brings clean mechanics and decision-making from a pro-style college system. Different strengths, similar menu.
The rise of Max Brosmer, the Howell trade, and why the room fits 2025
Few saw this coming: Max Brosmer, undrafted in April, just made the 53-man roster. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher arrived as a camp longshot and played his way onto the team with calm, repeatable work in the preseason. In three games, he was the constant — poised in muddy pockets, on time to the perimeter, and willing to climb and throw instead of bailing. The Vikings rewarded play over pedigree.
Brosmer’s surge had a domino effect. Minnesota moved veteran Sam Howell to the Eagles for a draft pick, thinning the room to three and sending a clear message about how they want to develop behind McCarthy. It’s not just about years in the league; it’s about who fits their teaching progression and can execute the practice plan every week. Brosmer fit both. Howell became surplus value.
Even in a 23-13 preseason loss to the Titans that closed August, Brosmer looked the part. Score aside, he ran the offense cleanly, kept the ball out of harm’s way, and stayed within structure. That matters to O’Connell, who prizes consistency over “hero ball” when you’re quarterback three. Your job is to replicate the starter in practice and be ready when the emergency rule puts you in the huddle cold.
And yes, the emergency rule matters. Since the league brought back the third quarterback designation, QB3 can dress without burning a normal game-day spot and can enter if the first two quarterbacks are out. For Minnesota, that’s a safety net for a rookie starter, a veteran backup with a physical play style, and a developmental player who now has a clear path to snaps if chaos hits.
All of this operates against a bigger backdrop: the Vikings chose a direction and stuck with it. They passed on the quarterback carousel and built a room that serves one purpose — accelerate McCarthy’s growth without compromising the season if he misses a series, a game, or a month. That’s why Wentz is here. He’s a stabilizer who can keep Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in rhythm, keep protections intact, and keep the ball moving without forcing Minnesota to redraw the playbook.
There were other roads. Minnesota kicked the tires on veteran options in the spring before locking in the rookie plan. One that drew chatter: Daniel Jones. He headed to Indianapolis instead, and in Week 1 against Miami, he put up a clean line — 22-of-29, 272 yards, three total touchdowns, 26 rushing yards, and an 87.6 QBR. Good day, good fit. Would he have made sense in Minnesota? Maybe. But here, he likely would have been looking at a headset, not a huddle, because the organization committed to McCarthy as QB1 from the jump.
So, what are the Vikings actually buying with Wentz at QB2? A few things. First, tempo control: he can get to the line fast, use cadence as a weapon, and handle kill checks. Second, short-memory resilience: games can turn ugly, and Wentz won’t blink if the script changes. Third, downfield access: defenses will still respect the vertical game, which matters when you want Jefferson and Addison to see two-high shells instead of rolled coverage every snap.
Of course, past film is part of the calculus. Wentz’s turnover streaks in Philly and Washington were real. Minnesota’s answer is to narrow the reads, lean on play-action, and keep him rhythm-based if he’s called into action. Quick game. Movement throws. Shot plays off heavy formations. You’re not asking him to be a 45-attempt savior; you’re asking him to pilot an offense that already creates leverage with formations and motion.
For McCarthy, this setup is about clarity. He’s the guy. He’ll get the full diet of starter reps, the Monday-to-Saturday routine, and the chance to build timing week after week. The staff will keep him in the parts of the field he owned at Michigan — seams off play-action, crossers against zone, and boundary throws off boot — while slowly expanding the menu. The explosives will come if the run game holds up and pass protection keeps his base clean.
The receivers aren’t window dressing here. With Jefferson’s gravity and Addison’s route craft, the Vikings can stress defenses horizontally and vertically without forcing McCarthy to play hero ball. The expectation: get the ball out on time, let the stars do the heavy lifting, and pick your spots for aggression. It’s exactly the kind of environment where a rookie can grow without being asked to carry the entire operation from Day 1.
And Brosmer? He’s the lab partner. He’ll spend most weeks mimicking opponents on the scout team, throwing the routes and concepts Minnesota expects to see on Sunday, and sharpening the defense. That role matters. It also keeps him on a slow-cook timeline, where the staff can rebuild any footwork quirks and speed up his eyes without the pressure of live bullets. If he keeps stacking clean practices, he’ll earn late-season snaps in lopsided games or become the emergency handoff machine if the worst hits.
Roster-building is about probabilities. The Vikings chose a high-upside rookie, protected him with a veteran who can win a game on short notice, and bet on a developmental third who already showed he can run the offense. It’s cautious without being timid, aggressive without being reckless. And it leaves Minnesota with something they didn’t have much of a year ago: options that make sense when the plan gets punched in the mouth.
Put it this way: If McCarthy starts 17 games, the Vikings get the on-the-job training they drafted him for. If he misses time, Wentz can keep the season functional and the locker room calm. If it all goes sideways, Brosmer’s earned enough trust to run the card and keep the structure intact. That’s not flashy. It’s adult football. And for a team trying to exit the quarterback wilderness, it’s a start that finally feels coherent.
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