Aug 14, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) passes against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Generally speaking, if the Minnesota Vikings need a “bridge quarterback” to pair with a presumptive rookie passer from this year’s draft, they should simply re-sign Kirk Cousins and call it good, or roll with Nick Mullens for a few weeks in 2024.
However, if the franchise absolutely craves a non-Cousins and non-Mullens option, that should be Drew Lock, a free-agent-to-be on Monday.
Lock is coming off the game of his life in December, a reclamation moment for the 27-year-old, and because so many backup quarterbacks experienced meaningful playing time in 2023, his services will actually be sought after this week.
Here was the post-game interview after the moment of his professional life three months ago:
The man has always possessed some iteration of the “it factor,” and on that December night versus the then-mighty Philadelphia Eagles, Lock auditioned for his next employer — if he leaves Seattle at all.
Many will point to his mangy 9-14 “quarterback record.” If a quarterback’s record was a coherent stat, Ryan Tannehill and Andy Dalton would be better football players than Matthew Stafford. Mitchell Trubisky would also be a better player than Warren Moon and Dan Fouts.
So, disregarding “QB wins,” Lock could serve as an adept bridge in Kevin O’Connell’s system. He’s big-armed, loves to sling the rock, and is infectious. The man just needs a few more cracks at some starts in the NFL to be ruled out as a long-term starter. In the end, he probably would’ve blossomed by now, but if the Vikings want a patchover option, they should get funky with Lock.
The latest on Kirk Cousins proves his time in the North Star State could be nearing an end. SI.com’s Albert Breer wrote Sunday, “The fact that Minnesota’s in the position to lose Cousins in the coming hours shows that the Vikings have set boundaries on that. A year ago, the team was unwilling to guarantee money more than two years out — which meant, at the time, past 2024 — and communicated to the quarterback’s camp that, as much as Minnesota likes Cousins, it wasn’t going to do a third deal that was (essentially, in the case of the second deal) fully guaranteed over three years.”
The Vikings likely have an offer on the table for Cousins — that has probably been there for weeks — and it’s up to him for a yes or no. He may check with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday to see their contractual bait. And if this is it for Cousins, Minnesota will need to draft a rookie from the 2024 NFL Draft unless it has some unforeseen plan to trade for Justin Fields, for example.
In the draft, Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), and Bo Nix (Oregon) will presumably fly off the board before the end of Round 2. The Vikings should draft one of those men, and if they don’t trust Nick Mullens, well, give Lock a call.
Minnesota would roll into 2024 with a rookie quarterback like Drake Maye, Drew Lock, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall at the sport’s most vital position.
Wouldn’t that be kind of fun?
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.