Souhan: Who should be the Vikings’ next QB? Look beyond the names you’re hearing.

The two most popular candidates to join the Vikings’ quarterback room with J.J. McCarthy are Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins. The Vikings might not be able to land either.

Jones is the backup with the San Francisco 49ers and is a favorite target of speculative Vikings fans.

But why would the 49ers, who have championship aspirations, and a starting quarterback who is frequently injured, trade their high-quality backup? And what would it cost if they did?

Cousins recently reworked his massive contract with the Atlanta Falcons so that he could become a free agent this summer. He would be ideal for the Vikings as someone who has succeeded in the Vikings’ system, but would he come back to Minnesota to back up a less-accomplished quarterback, and how much would the Vikings be willing to pay someone who might not see the field?

While Jones and Cousins will become the stars of Speculation Season, I think there are more logical targets out there.

McCarthy should be the Vikings’ starter entering 2026. But the Vikings can’t be assured he will stay healthy or keep the job. So what they need is someone who can win games if needed but not someone who will come to town with the expectation of starting.

This will require some needle-threading.

They traded for Sam Howell, who failed almost immediately.

They picked up Carson Wentz as a “street” free agent, meaning he was sitting at home.

They tried Max Brosmer, who had played one year of major college football.

My suggestion: How about doing none of the above this offseason?

I think there is a sleeper candidate who is being overlooked.

He has played in two NFC title games.

His postseason record is 4-2.

His career completion percentage is 67.4, better than Cousins’ 66.7 or Jones’ 66.5.

He has learned under two of the best offensive coaches in football in Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay.

Because he plays for McVay, he is familiar with the offense run by Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.

And because he’s been a backup the past two seasons, he’s healthy and couldn’t make realistic demands about being a starter.

He might also look at the Vikings’ current quarterback situation the way Jones looked at Indianapolis’ last offseason. Jones thought he could beat out young Anthony Richardson, and he was right.

Who am I talking about?

You’ve probably guessed by now: Jimmy Garoppolo.

The name might not excite you. I would encourage you to compare his résumé with every other attainable quarterback on the market.

But there is a problem with Burrow: He makes a massive amount of money. To acquire him would cost draft picks, players and funds, which would leave the Vikings in the same situation that Burrow is now trying to extricate himself from — a team that pays its skill-position players so much money that it can’t fund an offensive line or defense.

Garoppolo is on a one-year deal with the Rams. Unless Matthew Stafford retires and the Rams are willing to hand the job to Garoppolo, he will likely be looking for a place where he can make one more run as a starter.

With McCarthy and Garoppolo, the Vikings would have a talented youngster and an accomplished veteran in the room, with Brosmer as their developmental quarterback.