Homegrown QB Sends Clear Message After Turning Heads With Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings could still pursue a trade to bolster their quarterback room, but local product Max Brosmer is making a strong case for a roster spot. Moreover, Brosmer is not resting on his laurels amid the possibility that he could make it.
Brosmer completed 15 of 27 passes for 157 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception in the Vikings’ 20-12 loss to the New England Patriots on Saturday.
But while the poise he showed was impressive, Brosmer knows he has a lot of work to do.
“There’s a lot to get better at. A lot more to get better at,” Brosmer told reporters on August 16. “That’s the entire team. That’s the process of football, that’s why people play football. You love it, but you love the process of getting better and learning how to win more football games. And today was an example of – it kind of shined some spots that we can get better at to win football games. And we’re going to go back to the drawing board, and attack it tomorrow, and get ready for next week.”
Brosmer also had plenty of praise for his teammates after they orchestrated their first two-minute drive together. He noted that there were a “few mistakes that we will learn from,” but was “proud” of his teammates and what it could mean going forward as they build chemistry.
Brosmer spent five seasons at New Hampshire, leading the FCS in passing yards per game and total offense, and the nation in total passing yards, passing TDs, and points responsible for per game in 2023.
Brosmer finished his collegiate career with Minnesota, where he had worked out before and caught the eye of Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Raves About Max Brosmer
Brosmer went 5-for-8 for 47 yards and 1 TD in the Vikings’ 20-10 win over the Houston Texans in the preseason opener, and he has impressed coaches during his time with the team.
O’Connell spoke about what he “loved” about Brosmer’s showing in Week 2.
“What I loved about Max is there were some breakdowns up front, and maybe he couldn’t progress and read through concepts. But he plays with very fast eyes and very rarely puts the ball at harm’s way when he’s doing it, which is a unique trait,” O’Connell told reporters on August 16, citing a “fourth-down dagger throw” from Brosmer to Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones.
“That’s about as stacked against you as it can be, and he throws that well before that pattern had declared. Just things like that that he’s done, and shows consistently, is why he’s getting the reps that he is.”
Brosmer is still battling veteran journeyman Brett Rypien, who O’Connell also lauded after his 7-for-11 showing with 83 yards against the Patriots, and Sam Howell.
Rypien has more experience in the Vikings’ system, having joined the team in 2024.
But Brosmer has risen from the fourth quarterback in the battle to a legitimate contender for the Vikings’ QB2 job, which O’Connell has said is open as they look for someone to cement themselves in the role.
Max Brosmer a Risky Cut Candidate
The Vikings kept three quarterbacks last season, which bodes well for Brosmer’s chances of earning a roster spot, and it could even be as J.J. McCarthy’s backup.
The decision has its pros and cons.
“Brosmer displays a post-snap processing speed that’s hard to find. He also has more touch and accuracy than you might expect for a player who went undrafted. Add in the fact that he was mainly playing with a third- and fourth-string unit with leaky protection, and it’s difficult not to come away impressed by the 24-year-old,” The Athletic’s Alec Lewis wrote on August 16.
“Would the Vikings be comfortable with their two top quarterbacks being so young and inexperienced? If not, would they risk waiving a QB whom other NFL teams have eyed this preseason?”
The Vikings have until August 26 to trim their roster down from the 90-man limit to the 53-man count for the regular season, setting a hard deadline for Brosmer.
