Vikings Listed as Landing Spot for You Know Who
Re-sign Kirk Cousins? Draft a quarterback in April?
Nope. The Minnesota Vikings’ primary quarterback strategy this offseason could be signing Russell Wilson, according to some.
Vikings Listed as Landing Spot for You Know Who
Wilson and the Denver Broncos appear on the brink of full divorce after the veteran passer was benched down the stretch of the regular season in favor of Jarrett Stidham. Equipped with ample cashflow earned in Denver, Wilson could sign for cheap at his next destination — and ESPN believes that new NFL home could be the Vikings.
Of course, Minnesota already has a quarterback quandary. It must decide to re-up with Cousins for another year or two, although that option will likely cost $35-$45 million annually. The franchise could also say goodbye to Cousins altogether and start fresh with a rookie quarterback chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft.
But per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings cannot be ruled out of the budding Wilson Sweepstakes. “League sources see several logical fits for Wilson, who could thrive in an offense that schemes clearly defined throws off play-action and the running game. Don’t be surprised if Wilson, should he become a free agent, is intrigued by Minnesota, assuming Kirk Cousins doesn’t re-sign with the Vikings (a big if),” Fowler wrote Tuesday.
Wilson recorded 26 touchdown passes to 8 interceptions in 15 starts this season, while Denver banked a 7-8 record on his watch.
Fowler added, “Kevin O’Connell comes from the Sean McVay passing tree that maximizes quarterback efficiency. Wilson would have plenty of weapons in a group that includes Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison.”
ESPN also listed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons as potential fits for Wilson, who will turn 36 next November.
Last month, according to BetOnline.ag, the Vikings were the odds-on favorite to land Wilson when free agency kicks off in March. It is unclear where Wilson would fit among existing Vikings quarterbacks under contract, Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens.
Too, because the Vikings employ a somewhat new leadership regime in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell, the duo is expected to draft a quarterback with high-round capital before too long. All those factors complicate Wilson-to-Minnesota but didn’t exclude ESPN from connecting him and the Vikings. One item is certain: Wilson’s next team can sign him for cheap in a few months because his Denver payday is ongoing. In fact, for some team, he’d be the perfect patchover quarterback to a rookie.
In 2023, before hitting the bench assignment, Wilson ranked 14th leaguewide per EPA+CPOE. For context, Kirk Cousins ranked fifth. During his first Broncos hurrah, Wilson placed 27th via the same metric. While anything is possible as the Vikings enter the 2024 offseason, retaining Cousins, drafting a 1st-Round quarterback — or both — feel like a more predictable outcome than signing Wilson.
Teams led by Wilson have a lifetime 7-1 against the Vikings.
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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