Kellen Mond Could Soon Have a New NFL Home
Dustin Baker
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Some recent former Minnesota Vikings players have excelled with new teams through three weeks of the 2023 regular season. Adam Thielen is a true-blue WR1 in Carolina, and Za’Darius Smith is the real deal in Cleveland.
Conversely, Dalvin Cook, for example, has utterly floundered in New York.
Kellen Mond Could Soon Have a New NFL Home
And another familiar ex-Viking could soon net a new gig, quarterback Kellen Mond. The 24-year-old auditioned for the Panthers roster on Tuesday.
ESPN Field Yates tweeted on the X app, “Some notable Tuesday workouts: Panthers: QB Kellen Mond. Colts: RB Ronald Jones. Seahawks: WR Tavon Austin.”
Mond last spent time with the Browns before rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson effectively stole his job during the preseason, and the Texas A&M alumnus has lived on the free-agent wire since. Coincidentally, if Mond lands a job with the Panthers, well, the Vikings play Carolina this weekend, and in theory, Mond could be the QB2-QB3.
Panthers rookie passer Bryce Young is battling an ankle injury that prevented him from playing against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. Veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton is the backup and the odds-on favorite to face Minnesota this weekend in Charlotte.
Carolina features no quarterbacks on its practice squad, increasing the chances of Mond signing on the dotted line.
The Vikings evaluated Mond in training camp and last year’s preseason, leading to a trade involving Nick Mullens from the Las Vegas Raiders. The moment Mullens set foot in Eagan, Minnesota, he became the Vikings QB2 without having to toss a preseason pass.
Mond was drafted by the Vikings former leadership regime in 2021 as a possible contingency plan for QB1 Kirk Cousins. Fans endlessly debate whether Cousins is actually a worthwhile franchise quarterback, so the addition of Mond was viewed as a grand what-if.
But Minnesota waived Mond on August 31st, 2022, and he joined the Browns roster via waivers the next day. He didn’t play any regular season snaps for the 2022 Browns — even with the aforementioned Watson suspended for 11 games — and now hopes to latch onto a team like the Panthers.
Mond has attempted three regular season passes as a pro, all with the Vikings in 2021.
The young quarterback is mobile, has a decent pocket presence, and has a quick release but is criticized for poor decision-making and a robotic rhythm.
The Panthers also employ former Vikings Ihmir Smith-Marsette (WR), Adam Thielen (WR), and Xavier Woods (S).
Minnesota is favored by 3.5 points to topple Carolina this weekend.
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.
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