The Painful Vikings Case of the One Who Got Away
Never mind Minnesota Vikings fans’ sideways jealousy over Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers, or Drake Maye. The team — rather easily — could have signed Baker Mayfield during the 2023 offseason and called it good at quarterback for years.
The logic applies to 31 NFL teams, but the Minnesota Vikings have a case of “the one who got away” right now, especially in the NFC.
Mayfield is balling out in Tampa Bay, and in fact, is one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks at the moment — if not the best.
Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda for Vikings on Baker Mayfield
The contract price two years ago, too, was affordable.
Revisionist History Says Vikings Could Have Signed Baker Mayfield in 2023
In 2023, Minnesota would embark on the final year of Kirk Cousins‘ stay in the Twin Cities, his sixth and final season as the Vikings’ signal-caller.
At the time, Baker Mayfield was viewed as a draft bust, a man who couldn’t keep a starting job in Carolina. The Panthers, absolutely starved for a franchise quarterback, afforded Mayfield a prolonged audition, and he just didn’t stand off the page.
His stock was so low during the 2023 offseason that the Buccaneers pounced with a dinker contract for one year and $4 million.
As it stands in 2025, the contract might have changed NFL history, depending on Mayfield’s eventual accomplishments in Tampa Bay. For what it’s worth, Minnesota — or any team — could have signed Mayfield at the teensy price point.
Rolled with Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall Instead
To be clear: Mayfield wasn’t a popular or oh-so-close free-agent option for Minnesota in 2023. During that offseason, the club decided to roll with Cousins at QB1, existing QB2 Nick Mullens as the backup, and later picked BYU’s Jaren Hall in Round 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The QB room was full, and nobody at the time decried the decision-making with, “What are they doing? They could have had Baker Mayfield.”
Again, Mayfield was classified as a down-on-his-luck probable bust that would get one more shot in Tampa Bay, likely has a patchover quarterback for a young passer to be named later. That scenario never played out.
But don’t forget that the Vikings and the rest of the NFL could have forged the Mayfield relationship for four million bucks — and had an MVP candidate under center 2.5 years later.
Mayfield Now a Leading MVP Candidate
Mayfield is on pace for 4,361 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions in 2025. That’s an MVP’s stat line.
Currently, Josh Allen leads the way for MVP per sportsbooks, possessing a +140 moneyline. After Allen, it’s a familiar face in Patrick Mahomes at +270. Then, there’s Mayfield at +470.
The 30-year-old has transformed into an MVP darling after Week 6
Applicable to Every QB-Needy Team
To reiterate, aside from the Buccaneers, every team failed to recognize Mayfield’s impending breakout. Mayfield’s stock had fallen so low the year prior that the Los Angeles Rams signed him for a primetime game a few days before, and onlookers thought the performance might be a joke.
He later thrived in that game, and his career emphatically recovered.
It’s a learning session for every NFL general manager: just because a quarterback like Mayfield didn’t work out in Carolina, for example, doesn’t mean his career is cooked.
NFL.com on Mayfield
Judy Battista opined on Mayfield’s continued rise after Week 6, “Baker Mayfield should lead the race for MVP. The Bucs leading the NFC South is not a surprise — they’ve won it the last four seasons in a row. But Mayfield has elevated his game and willed the Bucs to a 5-1 record, all without playing a single game with his full complement of wide receivers.”
“Sunday was a Baker tour de force, even after he was down his top four receivers. In the third quarter, on third and 14, the 49ers appeared to be about to sack Mayfield for a big loss. Mayfield sprung loose, rambled to his left, pump-faked a few times, kept moving, somehow eluded a defender, absorbed a hit and then dove for the first down line.”
Mayfield is the NFL’s 19th-highest-paid passer per average annual value this season. He’ll be in line for a raise next offseason.
“Two plays later, he threw a 45-yard dime for a touchdown to rookie Tez Johnson. He finished 17 of 23 for 256 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions, but it was that third quarter sequence that should be on the MVP nomination reel. He has thrown 12 touchdowns and just one interception,” Battista added.
It’s not Darnold, Jones, Maye, or Rodgers who got away. Mayfield was the most affordable and accessible option in 2023.
You must be logged in to post a comment.