The Vikings announced on Friday that quarterback Matt Corral has been signed. To make room on the roster, first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy was placed on IR following his season-ending meniscus surgery. 
McCarthy’s injury confirmed Sam Darnold‘s place atop the QB depth chart for Minnesota, but it thinned the team’s number of healthy options behind him. Corral will join Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall in competing for a roster spot. In Corral’s case, of course, his efforts on that front will double as an attempt to return to the NFL.
The 25-year-old entered the league as a third-round pick of the Panthers. A member of 2022’s poorly-regarded quarterback class, Corral suffered a preseason Lisfranc injury and was sidelined for his entire rookie campaign as a result. Carolina brought in Andy Dalton before selecting Bryce Young first overall last offseason, and Corral’s performances in exhibition games were not sufficient to land him a roster spot.
The Panthers intended to keep Corral in the fold via the practice squad, but the Patriots put in a claim and prevented that from happening. The Ole Miss alum’s time in New England proved to be short-lived, though, as he found himself on the exempt/left squad list before being let go in September. No team put in a waiver claim the second time around, leaving him as a free agent. A lack of interest at the NFL level led to a deal with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions.
Corral’s decision to sign with the team left him in competition with Adrian Martinez for the starting QB role. The latter went on win league MVP honors while helping lead the Stallions to the inaugural UFL championship (earning himself an NFL audition in the process), but the former did see some game action. Corral made a total of five regular and postseason appearances, including three starts. He posted a 2:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio along with an 81.0 passer rating during that time.
Now, Corral will look to at least earn consideration for a practice squad spot with the McCarthy-less Vikings. He will share snaps with Mullens, who has one year remaining on the $4MM pact he signed in 2023, and Hall, who will be attached to his rookie contract through 2026.
Reunited with Darnold. Very interesting signing
I remember some people had him going late 1st round or early second. He dropped to 3rd round and just doesn’t really have it
I’m glad to see him finally get another shot, I suggested this the other day when I read about McCarthy being out for the year. He got hurt & was out for the year when he was a rookie. The Panthers drafted Bryce Young first overall & then signed Andy Dalton to back him up, so he never had a chance with the team that traded up to draft him. He probably wasn’t willing to go the practice squad route last year, but I bet he will now.
He has issues upstairs…
Sort of an odd signing – as Minnesota was already carrying 3 other QBs besides McCarthy. Corral also has no NFL starts and no connection to O’Connell or his OC (i.e., no familiarity with the Vikings offense) – thus it isn’t like he’d be able to step in for an injured Darnold.
They should have waited a week, as there will be plenty of better backup QBs available when rosters get cut down..