Vikings Sign Next-in-Line QB for 2023
Dustin Baker
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If something happens to Kirk Cousins in 2023 — the man has never missed a game to injury — the Minnesota Vikings have secured the QB2 contingency plan.
He’s Nick Mullens, the team’s QB2 from last year, and he’ll fill the same role in 2023 unless Minnesota drafts a dazzling rookie passer from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Vikings Sign Next-in-Line QB for 2023
ESPN Field Yates tweeted Tuesday, “The Vikings are expected to re-sign QB Nick Mullens, who backed-up Kirk Cousins last season, per source.”
Mullens joined the Vikings late last summer after Kevin O’Connell opted to rest QB1 Kirk Cousins during the first two preseason games, along with many other starters. That paved the way for a comprehensive examination of second-year passer Kellen Mond and veteran Sean Mannion. After unimpressive performances from both, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded a 2024 7th-Round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Mullens.
Now, Mullens will stay a while.
To date, this is Mullens’ resume via team:
- San Francisco 49ers (2017-2020)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2021)
- Cleveland Browns (2021)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2022)
- Minnesota Vikings (2022-)
The Eagles cut Mullens in 2021 before he landed with the Browns.
Discovered as an undrafted free agent after the 2017 NFL Draft by the 49ers, Adofo-Mensah was a part of San Francisco’s front office during the first part of Mullen’s stay out west. So, the proverbial “GM and player ties” were displayed in the trade last summer and via the continuation of the relationship in Minnesota. Mullens also played in Cleveland in 2021, which is where Adofo-Mensah was employed.
Mullens has started 17 career games en route to 243.1 passing yards per game and a 27-TD to 23-INT split. Teams led by Mullens are 5-12 (.294), and he has a career passer rating of 88.0. Almost all Mullens’ starts occurred in San Francisco in 2018 and 2020.
The Vikings showcased Mullens in Week 18 last year at the Chicago Bears, a decent showing with 116 passing yards and an interception in two quarters. Mullens also threw a “garbage time” touchdown pass the week before at Green Bay after O’Connell took starters out of the game due to a Packers romp.
Mullens’ teammate, Cousins, has not signed a contract extension this offseason, meaning he could depart the franchise as early as 2024. There’s a slight chance that Mullens is around after Cousins as a mentor to the Vikings next quarterback. Without Cousins under contract beyond 2023, Adofo-Mensah will likely draft a young passer somewhere in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Details of Mullens’ new contract length and value were not immediately available.
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,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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