Image courtesy of Vikings.com
The Minnesota Vikings did not showcase an impressive preseason, and the source of some — certainly not all — of that disappointment derived from the QB2 position.
Rookie Kellen Mond was inconsistent, which happens for developmental rookies. And current QB2 Jake Browning was downright unsatisfactory. Browning was trending as QB2 in training camp, but that theory was vanquished when actual preseason games took place.
Because the Vikings believe they own a Super Bowl-caliber roster, relying on Mond as the QB2 in the event of Kirk Cousins’ absence seems dangerous. Head coach Mike Zimmer even hinted at the idea of exploring free agency for a backup quarterback after the team lost to the Indianapolis Colts one week ago.
Roster cuts for all NFL teams will occur on Tuesday. Here are four players that might be released and thus available to the Vikings.
Aug 28, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles (9). Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
A Super Bowl champion from 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Foles is a total footnote right now with the Chicago Bears. The Vikings divisional foe is arguing with itself on the idea of starting Andy Dalton over rookie Justin Fields, so Foles is just kind of expendable.
If released, he’s the number-one-with-a-bullet option for the Vikings at QB2. He did the job in Philadelphia — resoundingly — so marriage with Minnesota is a total no-brainer. Foles has started 55 career games with 16% of all NFL teams (Eagles, Rams, Chiefs, Jaguars, Bears), and the man is the quintessential definition of a good backup quarterback.
He even stuck it to the Vikings on a January day in 2018 during the NFC Championship.
Aug 21, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins (3. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Haskins got off to a bizarre and horrid start with the Washington Football Team after his entry into the league in 2019. His performance as a rookie and sophomore was woeful, culminating in his release due to poor off-the-field choices.
The Pittsburgh Steelers took a flyer on his services, and it is unclear if Haskins will make the roster as QB2 or QB3. If he does not, he could be perceived as a slight temporary upgrade to Mond or Browning. After all, Haskins was drafted with the 15th overall pick by Washington in 2019 (which felt like a steal after his stock tumbled a few spots on draft night).
Haskins is quasi-mobile with perhaps some potential for maturation — on and off the field.
Interesting fact: Haskins was teammates with Vikings rookie guard Wyatt Davis at Ohio State.
Jul 28, 2021; Foxborough, MA, United States; New England Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer (5). Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Foles is the dream scenario as a backup quarterback, evidenced by his 2017 storybook run. Hoyer, on the other hand, is the classic reservist quarterback — rosterable at QB2 but definitely not at QB1. He’s played for seven NFL teams in twelve years, mostly with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. Hoyer was trusted as Tom Brady’s backup for several years, so he’s qualified to do the same for Kirk Cousins.
Hoyer will turn 36 in October and may not make the 53-man roster for New England with rookie Mac Jones assuredly snagging QB2 duties [at the very least].
Unlike Mond at QB2, a Hoyer appearance in a Vikings game would be predictable. He’d enact the proverbial “management of the game,” while Mond would be a wildcard. Would Mond be ready to lead an offense? Maybe. How about Hoyer? Indubitably — it just wouldn’t have the pizazz that a starter would offer.
Aug 28, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sean Mannion (9). Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Old faithful — sort of.
Mannion manned the Vikings QB2 job for two seasons, starting one game against Chicago in 2019 when Minnesota already secured playoff seeding. To date, Mannion has never thrown a regular-season touchdown pass, although he’s been a member of the NFL for six seasons.
He can be considered a “safe” addition to the depth chart for QB2. Perhaps in the event of a Cousins injury or COVID ordeal, the Vikings could decide if Mond or Mannion was the best vehicle by which to win games. Mond might just mature as the 2021 season chugs along. We shall see.
This one will make a lot of folks roll their eyes, but Mannion does not blatantly airmail passes incomplete as did Browning versus the Kansas City Chiefs in the third preseason game.
Plus, Mannion knows the Vikings offense.
View Comments
please not Mannion
Assuming they're not cut, I'd trade a 6th or 7th rounder, even a non-conditional 5th, for either Kyle Allen (WFT probably want to trade him) or Mason Rudolph (assuming neither he nor Haskins is cut).
Failing that, I'd sign Foles, Hoyer or Mannion if they were available. I might see if I could get Matt Moore out of his recliner, too.
I would take Nick first, old faithful, but after that one I would get slotted by far the better arm of all, Zimmerman run first offense has issues. It is what it is.
Even considering other 3rd round picks like Mannion or Rudolph is an indication of how ill-conceived the Mond pick was. Might just as well grab a UDFA like Kyle Shurmur or Reid Sinnett off waivers - both played better today than anything we saw from any of the Vikes backups.
I admit I don't follow the Steelers, but Rudolph has a winning record as a pro and at least some of his stats have been trending in the right direction over the last two years. Shurmur or Sinnett might make sense as developmental QB's, but isn't it still possible to see Rudolph as a possible QB2?
And, uh, I'll see you Mannion and Rudolph and raise you Wilson and Cousins (4th rounder, but with their new pay wall, it's harder to search Pro Football Reference for 3rd round QB's).
Where are you, Kyle Sloter?
None of them as good an option as Gardner Minshew who could have been had for a lousy 6th rounder. Blown opportunity. He’s already better than Mond ever will be.
What about Flacco? Philly traded for Minschew (spelling?)...likely Flacco gets cut.