Meet the QBs the Vikings Will Face in 2026

The NFL schedule release is still a few weeks away, but hardcore Minnesota Vikings fans know the team’s opponents are readily available to study. Accordingly, the gauntlet of opposing quarterbacks is public knowledge, and it’s time for you to know the pecking order.

Brian Flores will see stars, veterans, and several uncertain young passers.

So, here’s a look at the signal-callers who Flores will face starting in September. We’ve ranked them from easiest to most difficult.

Minnesota’s Roadmap Starts with the Opposing QBs

It’s not necessarily an easy setup.

Geno Smith waits in the tunnel before a Raiders game against the Texans. Vikings 2026 schedule — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) waits in the tunnel before facing the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Dec 21, 2025, standing calmly ahead of kickoff as he prepares to lead the offense in a road matchup with playoff implications late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images.

Geno Smith | New York Jets

The Jets are rolling with Smith in 2026, and nobody knows why. There’s a decent chance that by the time this game rolls around, New York has benched Smith for a rookie.

Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa | Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons thought they had the QB solution licked in 2024 when they signed Kirk Cousins and drafted Michael Penix Jr. Two years later, Tagovailoa could be the QB1 when the Vikings play them. Tagovailoa has never faced Minnesota.

Tyler Shough | New Orleans Saints

Shough ranked 23rd in the NFL per EPA/Play, a decent mark for a rookie passer. He’ll throw the ball to Chris Olave and rookie Jordyn Tyson on Sunday, which might just work.

Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers

Young faces perhaps the most significant make-or-break season of all NFLers this season. He can blossom into a Top 15 passer or continue to live in the league’s bottom tier per efficiency.

Daniel Jones | Indianapolis Colts

Per EPA/Play, Jones was the sport’s sixth-best quarterback in 2025, but he tore his Achilles in November, prompting the Colts’ season to wholly unravel. He’s back in the saddle now, reportedly healing nicely and the owner of a two-year, $88 million contract extension.

Malik Willis | Miami Dolphins

Willis looked marvelous on a few occasions for the Packers. Will that translate to Miami, where he has the worst weapons stable in the NFL?

Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said about Willis last month, “I think Malik’s an ascending player. One, it was important for us to get him on a three-year deal because we want to build around him. Two, this is not a band-aid. I don’t look at this as a band-aid.”

“Now he’s got to go play, and he knows this. But with any young quarterback, there needs to be daily improvement, getting fluid with his reads, taking care of the football.”

Willis was once left for dead by the Tennessee Titans.

“He’s got, as you guys watched the tape last year, all the traits in the world. He’s got an elite arm. He’s a very, very good athlete. He’s a big, strong, powerful body. He can take the punishment, make plays with his legs, attack all levels of the field,” Sullivan added.

Jared Goff | Detroit Lions (twice)

Goff looked like a total buffoon when the Vikings beat the Lions on Christmas Day. He’s a bit like Kirk Cousins — you know he’s good, but you’re never terribly afraid of him.

Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers

Purdy’s solid, but the Vikings always get the best of him. There’s something about Flores’s defense that flusters him, and that could eventually loom large in a playoff game.

Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers (twice)

Jordan Love walks out of the tunnel before a Packers game in Seattle. Vikings 2026 schedule — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) walks out of the tunnel during warmups at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on Dec 15, 2024, stepping onto the field before a matchup with the Seahawks as the Packers prepare for a late-season game in a loud road environment. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images.

Love is similar to Dak Prescott: he’s a really good quarterback, but he may never turn the corner into elite status. Most Vikings fans are happy that Green Bay has taken a break from Brett Favres and Aaron Rodgerses. Love is beatable. Often, Rodgers was not.

Jayden Daniels | Washington Commanders

Daniels had a sophomore slump in 2025. He actually played like a moron against the Vikings last year. In all likelihood, he’ll be back with a vengeance in 2026.

Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mayfield started the 2025 campaign white-hot, drawing MVP chants for about three weeks. When it was said and done, he ranked as the NFL’s 19th-best quarterback per EPA/Play.

Drake Maye | New England Patriots

Drake Maye throws a pass against the Jets at MetLife Stadium. Vikings 2026 schedule — New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) delivers a pass during the first quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Dec 28, 2025, stepping into the throw as defenders close in during a divisional matchup late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.

Speaking of Daniels, will Maye take a step back when his team plays a real NFL schedule? The Patriots somehow faced one of the easiest slates of opponents in NFL history. That should change in 2026.

Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears (twice)

Williams came into his own down the stretch of 2025, authoring a playoff game — basically a throw — for the ages. Put plainly, you can’t bring the guy down. He feels like he’s on the verge of a monster next step.

Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills

Patrick Mahomes will probably bounce back and reclaim his throne as the best player in the NFL. Until then, Allen is the standard-bearer in the NFL. He is the Buffalo Bills.