Bleacher Report’s FA Idea for Vikings Is a Little Kooky
Re-sign Kirk Cousins? How about selecting a quarterback in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft?
Bleacher Report’s FA Idea for Vikings Is a Little Kooky
Not really. That’s the word from Bleacher Report this week, publishing a recommendation for the Minnesota Vikings to sign Gardner Minshew of the Indianapolis Colts, who will hit free agency in less than three months.
Minnesota couldn’t realistically re-sign Cousins and add Minshew, but it could, in theory, say goodbye to Cousins — also a free agent — and sign Minshew while drafting a quarterback in April’s draft. The idea is just a bit strange because the Vikings already have Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens under contract for 2024.
That didn’t faze Bleacher Report, though. Its collective staff summarized the Vikings’ current quarterback situation entering the offseason, “The quarterback situation in Minnesota is going to be one of the early storylines to watch during the offseason. Kirk Cousins’ contract expires at the end of the year and he will be a 36-year-old who is coming off a torn Achilles, so it’s not a slam dunk that he’s retained. But, the Vikings are also likely going to be out of range for drafting one of the top passers in this year’s class, barring a trade-up.”
At the moment, the Vikings would choose 14th in the 2024 NFL Draft, a draft spot that could climb as high as eighth or dive in the mid-20s, depending on the outcome of the next couple of games. If the Vikings miss the postseason, they’ll draft somewhere between 8th-16th. A playoff trip would shove the pick into the 20s.
“If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t want to re-sign Cousins nor give up a ton of assets to go after a quarterback prospect, Minshew would be a solid option in free agency since he’s done a good job of filling in for Anthony Richardson this season. The five-year veteran had a 63.3 completion percentage, nearly 2,800 yards and 14 touchdowns heading into this weekend while keeping the Colts in the playoff hunt,” BR added about exploring Minshew’s free agency.
Minshew has played quite serviceably in 2023, keeping the Colts’ season afloat after Anthony Richardson’s injury parade early in the season. He ranks 22nd leaguewide per quarterback DVOA out of 45 qualifying passers, sandwiched between Kenny Pickett and Tyrod Taylor.
If Kirk Cousins were about to retire or refused to re-sign in Minnesota, adding Minshew would potentially make sense while general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted a rookie in April. He’d be a solid patchover quarterback, not unlike his assignment for the 2023 Colts.
But the Vikings have Hall, Mullens, and possibly Cousins for bridge-quarterback duty, and it’s unlikely for them to sign an extra veteran just for depth.
Kevin O’Connell’s third season in Minneapolis will probably involve more Cousins, a rookie quarterback, or both. Minshew would be a little kooky.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.