Earlier today, some long-expected news hit the NFL headlines: the Minnesota Vikings have traded away J.J. McCarthy. Doing so comes due to the promise and upside of a 5th-Round selection.
There’s now a vacated Vikings QB3 job to consider. Quite possibly, the move will be to elevate Max Brosmer, but that would be a foolish decision. He has done very little to suggest readiness in this precise moment, instead boasting the intangibles and attributes that make him more intriguing over a long-term time horizon. Check out some Vikings options for players who make more sense right now.
3 Vikings QB Options to Consider
Option No. 1 — Nick Mullens, Jacksonville Jaguars Practice Squad
The veteran isn’t perfect. What he is, though, is a promising depth arm.
Nick Mullens doesn’t have great arm strength. He’ll attack downfield but doesn’t put a ton of velocity on the football. Essentially, he’s got a gunslinger’s mentality without the arm strength. That sometimes leads to defenders intercepting the football.
The upside here is that he’s got built-in knowledge of the scheme and proven chemistry with Justin Jefferson. As a third passer, Mullens offers a lot to like. He could get poached from the Jaguars’ practice squad if the Vikings give him a spot on the 53.
Option No. 2 — Will Levis, New York Jets Practice Squad
Let me be the first to say that his mayonnaise habit is alarming. Does it nevertheless make sense to give him a look as the QB3?
The 27-year-old quarterback got drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Titans snagged him at No. 33 overall, a single spot outside of the 1st Round. He boasts an ideal quarterback build at 6’4″ and 230 pounds. His NFL career features a 61.0% completion rate alongside a 21/16 TD-to-INT ratio. Not sizzling stuff, but he was working for Tennessee.
Again, not a bad option as a QB3. There’s some meat on the bone here.
Option No. 3 — Jalen Milroe, Seattle Seahawks Roster
Consider this one unlikely. Nevertheless, the argument.
Jalen Milroe got drafted in the 3rd Round of the 2025 NFL Draft. GM Nolan Teasley was part of Seattle’s front office at the time. Since then, the Seahawks have won a Super Bowl with Sam Darnold under center, meaning the QB spot is solidified by Darnold — still only 29 — for the foreseeable future.
And then the 2026 season has seen some good things from Drew Lock, who has been an able injury fill-in for Darnold. Milroe, Seattle’s QB3, could be gettable. What would the cost be?
Milroe is only 23.