Vikings Sign New Quarterback
Going into training camp, the Minnesota Vikings had three quarterbacks on the roster. Kirk Cousins is the unquestioned starter and will be backed up by Nick Mullens. Rookie Jaren Hall will have a redshirt year and the first preseason contest showed why. He still has too much to learn to be a reliable backup at this point.
Vikings Sign New Quarterback
But now there will be a fourth passer in the room of quarterbacks coach Chris O’Hara. The Vikings signed XFL star quarterback Jordan Ta’amu. He worked out with the Vikings in June.
The 25-year-old was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 and led the USFL in passing yards and touchdowns in 2022. He went undrafted coming out of Ole Miss in 2019 and has become a journeyman in the NFL.
Ta’amu had short stints with the Texans, Lions, Chiefs, Commanders, and Panthers but has never thrown a pass in the NFL. During his time in Washington, the passer learned from former Vikings quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who also went the XFL path, received another chance in the NFL and started 24 games in the last couple of seasons.
In ten games in 2023, Ta’amu recorded 14 passing touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. He also added 3 rushing scores for the DC Defenders and led the team to a 9-1 record and a trip to the XFL title game as a teammate of Vikings running back Abram Smith and wideout Lucky Jackson.
In his two-year career at Ole Miss, Ta’amu passed for 5,600 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The capable runner rushed for 507 yards and 10 touchdowns. He transferred there after spending his first two seasons of eligibility at New Mexico Military Institute.
The new quarterback was added roughly 25 hours before the second preseason game kicks off which is too short to get ready for game action. A more likely scenario is that Ta’amu will make his debut with the Vikings in the third preseason contest against the Arizona Cardinals.
It remains to be seen how good Ta’amu really is. His goal is to show enough promise to earn a roster spot (or one on the practice squad) somewhere in the NFL.
He is a long shot to stick with the Vikings as they have the previously mentioned three passers under contract. Mullens is a fine backup and Hall was just drafted, so the team will give him time to develop.
Next year will be an interesting month in the Vikings’ orbit as the franchise has to answer the QB question. Kirk Cousins is in the final year of his contract and the team has to either extend his deal or find a replacement.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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