Our Endorsement for the Vikings Starting QB after Bye
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings have an in-season quarterback controversy for the first time in 10 years.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Tuesday about his thought process after the loss to Chicago, “I think the quarterback position needs to be evaluated to see what gives us the best chance to win. I don’t think there’s any particular timeline.”
Our Endorsement for the Vikings Starting QB after Bye
The choice is between Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall, and O’Connell should name the starter’s identity sometime next week.
Left up to VikingsTerritorry’s writers, the panel would roll with rookie Jaren Hall — by a whisker.
Dustin Baker: Jaren Hall
Endorser: Dustin Baker
No option will disappoint when announced because no option is wonderful.
Hall, however, is the right choice because he blends both worlds — Dobbs’ mobility and Mullens’ passing accuracy (or so says the Hall scouting report). The hope will be that Hall protects the ball with more competence than Dobbs and provides more mobility than Mullens.
Hell, maybe Hall is a baller. Let’s bank on hope in a season that likely won’t fetch a Super Bowl anyway.
The other part, often overlooked, is that whoever is chosen by O’Connell can live on a short leash and be benched mid-game if turnovers start flying all over the place. Choosing Hall, for example, can quickly pivot to Dobbs or Mullens if Hall stinks.
Wes Johnson: Jaren Hall
Endorser: Wes Johnson
Roll with the rookie. We already know what Dobbs and Mullens offer, but we don’t really have the drop on Hall. Why not get a little sexy and bold?
Adam New: Jaren Hall
Endorser: Adam New
Go with the rookie. Nick Mullens is the safe option, but you can fall back on that anytime. Gamble with the rookie and see what Jaren Hall can do with a second chance.
Ali Siddiqui: Jaren Hall
Endorser: Ali Siddiqui
He was drafted by the team this year and was looking good before he left the game in Atlanta. Joshua Dobbs did well for two games and was a good story, but he’s now looking like someone who has, in fact, been a journeyman quarterback. Hall very well may not be the long-term answer either, but the Vikings need to see what he can do.
Cole Smith: Jaren Hall
Endorser: Cole Smith
The team built a gameplan around the BYU rookie prior to the Falcons game, only to see him get injured on the second offensive drive of the game. Although the sample size was small, he offered glimpses of promise that day and is an unknown commodity. He probably isn’t as safe as Nick Mullens, but it’d also be tough for him to be as reckless as Joshua Dobbs (save for lowering a shoulder at the goal line).
Janik Eckardt: Joshua Dobbs
Endorser: Janik Eckardt
Joshua Dobbs has shown enough high-end play in his first two games to deserve another chance under center, especially given the limitations of the other options. A couple of extra weeks in the offense will help him play with a quieter mind, resulting in fewer turnovers. The Vikings should also utilize his backyard football skills instead of trying to make him a pocket passer.
Josh Frey: Joshua Dobbs
Endorser: Josh Frey
Dobbs has an element of athleticism that we wouldn’t see much of in the Vikings’ offense with Kirk Cousins, and Nick Mullens certainly won’t provide that, either. Dobbs hasn’t played well over the past two weeks, and he should have a short lease going into this game. It isn’t time to panic and overreact, though. We’ve seen him play well, and hopefully, he can recapture that with Justin Jefferson returning to the field.
Nate Powalie: Joshua Dobbs
Endorser: Nate Powalie
Dobbs, even though he has his flaws (see the Monday night game against Chicago), still has a redemption story surrounding him. This is his first true chance to step in and prove his value as a starting quarterback. Every QB goes through a bad game, but it’s all about how you respond after it. Dobbs is due for redemption.
Ted Schwerzler: Joshua Dobbs
Endorser: Ted Schwerzler
It’s easy to pull the plug on Josh Dobbs after his performance against the Chicago Bears, but Kevin O’Connell didn’t put him in great spots to succeed. Get him moving more, and run him out there for another game.
Total Vote Count:
Jaren Hall = 5
Joshua Dobbs = 4
Nick Mullens = 0
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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