The sexy part of free agency is long over as NFL teams have transitioned to organized team activities. But some teams have fresh cash after the NFL’s June 1st salary cap benchmark, and conveniently, a handful of ex-Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks are looking for work.
Training camps are still eight weeks away, but look for the men on this list to land jobs before too long.
The Former Vikings QBs
1. Joshua Dobbs
The New England Patriots employed Dobbs in 2025, and he stuck around the roster until March 2026. But after the Patriots added Tommy DeVito, they kicked Dobbs to the curb, and he’s been employed since.
Before that, Dobbs provided the Vikings with one of the most unexpected and entertaining detours of the 2023 season. Minnesota acquired him from Arizona after Kirk Cousins’ Achilles tear and while Nick Mullens was still sidelined. The cost was minimal: a 6th-Round pick and a conditional 7th-Rounder that was never conveyed. When Jaren Hall sustained a concussion in Atlanta, Dobbs was thrust into action with a partially learned playbook and no time to prepare.
Remarkably, it worked. He led the Vikings to victories against the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, creating a brief period where it felt like the team had stumbled into one of those improbable NFL narratives. “DobbsMania” was a legitimate, albeit fleeting, phenomenon, and it was a rollercoaster.
However, the league quickly adjusted to his style. His accuracy issues became apparent, and his timing with Jordan Addison never fully developed. A missed connection with Justin Jefferson in a game at the Denver Broncos proved to be a turning point. By the Las Vegas Raiders game the following week, head coach Kevin O’Connell had seen enough and benched him for Mullens. That swiftly concluded his chapter in Minnesota.
Dobbs later moved on to San Francisco and New England, where he demonstrated a similar pattern.
Some team will scoop Dobbs for a QB3 job, at least, before the end of the summer. He deserves it.
2. Desmond Ridder
The Green Bay Packers dropped Ridder last month when they signed Tyrod Taylor as Jordan Love’s primary 2026 backup. Ridder stopped by the Vikings in 2025 when injuries rattled J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz.
He’s started 18 NFL games for the Falcons and Raiders, with his teams achieving an 8-10 record. The record accurately reflects his current standing in the league. Ridder has mobility and a willingness to absorb hits, offering an offense some flexibility when plays break down. But his ability isn’t a primary focus for opposing defenses.
His passing statistics — 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and approximately 160 passing yards per game — suggest he can manage an offense effectively if supported by a strong running game, solid pass protection, and capable playmakers. He isn’t a guy who can single-handedly carry an offense.
Ridder may ultimately settle into a short-term role as a QB3 soon. Otherwise, he’s a practice squad guy.
3. Brett Rypien
The Vikings signed Rypien in 2024 after his release from the Bears and brought him back in the 2025 offseason to compete for the QB2 or QB3 position. However, his tenure was brief. O’Connell ultimately selected Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer behind J.J. McCarthy, leading to Rypien’s departure.
His NFL career has included stints with numerous teams:
- Denver Broncos (2019–2022)
- Los Angeles Rams (2023)
- Seattle Seahawks (2023)
- New York Jets (2023)
- Chicago Bears (2024)
- Minnesota Vikings (2024–2025)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
- Indianapolis Colts (2025)
In his four career starts, Rypien’s teams went 2-2. His overall production: 4 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
From February to late April 2025, Rypien briefly held the QB2 spot behind McCarthy in Minnesota. That changed when the Vikings traded for Sam Howell, later sent Howell to Philadelphia, and signed Wentz. The sequence of events sums up Rypien’s time with the Vikings: useful for a short period, then quickly replaced.
4. John Wolford
Similar to Ridder, Wolford joined the Vikings in 2025 as an emergency quarterback.
He entered the league in 2018 as an undrafted free agent with the Jets, though his time there was short. In 2019, he played for the Arizona Hotshots in the short-lived Alliance of American Football before securing a role with the Los Angeles Rams.
With the Rams, Wolford established himself as Jared Goff’s backup, even earning a Super Bowl ring as a reserve passer during the 2021 season. Across nine NFL seasons, Wolford has played in seven games, starting four, with his teams achieving a 2-2 record in those starts. His statistics are modest: 626 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 5 interceptions.
By now, he’s a practice squad guy, too.
