The Dark Horse QB2 for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have no backup quarterback after J.J. McCarthy — other than Brett Rypien, who most consider a QB3.
The Dark Horse QB2 for Vikings
That’s why, with each day that passes, Case Keenum could make sense to support McCarthy during the second-year passer’s first starting experience.
Keenum quarterbacked the Vikings in 2017 — it was quite memorable — and a reunion is more likely when one digs deep into the scenario.
Why Case Keenum (Again) for Vikings?
Jameis Winston signed with the New York Giants last weekend; he’s off the table.
Ryan Tannehill is an option, and perhaps Minnesota will explore him later in the offseason. Drew Lock could make sense, but adding him right now could disqualify the Vikings from a 4th- or 5th-Round compensatory pick in 2026 scheduled to drop into Minnesota’s bucket because of Daniel Jones’ free-agent departure to the Indianapolis Colts.
Keenum becomes more likely by the second, chiefly since other QB2s have flown off the board through two weeks of free agency.
He has ample starting experience and even worked with the Vikings’ head coach in 2019.
The Kevin O’Connell + Keenum Connection
O’Connell and Keenum were coworkers with the Washington Commanders in 2019. The era involved Dwayne Haskins in Washington, and O’Connell was three years away from taking the top job in Minnesota.
Keenum started half the season with O’Connell as offensive coordinator, which was O’Connell’s first OC gig in the NFL.
Keenum said in the summer of 2019: “I view new offenses like learning new languages. Certain offenses are like English to Chinese. Certain offenses are like Portuguese to Spanish. I would say I’ve been in Spanish before and this is more Portuguese.”
“There’s some carry-over, but some little tweak of the same word might mean something different in a different language. Part of it is trying to forget some of the old stuff and replace it with new stuff.”
Of course, the Commanders’ season didn’t amount to much, and everyone was fired. Keenum bounced around to the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans. Head coach Jay Gruden lost his job for good, and O’Connell took a sweet job in Los Angeles.
Keenum added, “I love this system, I really do. I think Jay Gruden has done a great job putting it together, and I think Kevin O’Connell, Matt Cavanaugh, Tim Rattay, all those guys, too. I think it’s really well presented and put together really good. I think I can thrive in it. So, I want to push it to the next level. I’m always trying to push it to that next level of playing.”
“I’ve been to that one game from the Super Bowl so I know what it takes to get there and I know how close it is. I’ve tasted just a bit of what that could be like and I want to get back there.”
Put plainly, O’Connell and Keenum know each other, and Keenum enjoys O’Connell’s offensive setup.
Keenum in 2017
The veteran passer is treasured by Vikings fans, mainly because his rise to temporary stardom was unforeseen. In 2017, QB1 Sam Bradford was lost for the season — and essentially his career — to a knee injury, and Keenum took over with little fanfare. Before and after his Vikings stint, Keenum never caught on with a team as a consistent performer.
But inside the 2017 season, Keenum was superb, showcasing a playground-like knack for distributing the football, and Stefon Diggs, plus Adam Thielen, feasted. The Vikings finished 13-3 in 2017 behind a murderous defense led by the prime versions of Harrison Smith, Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, Linval Joseph, and others.
Keenum was cut loose immediately after the storybook season, as then-head coach Mike Zimmer was never particularly enamored with his style. He landed with the Denver Broncos thereafter and struggled to remain the team’s QB1. Keenum later joined the Commanders and failed to catch on as the starter. Then, he embarked on back-to-back QB2/QB3 assignments in Cleveland, Buffalo, and Houston.
All told, Keenum has played for the Texans (three separate times), Rams, Vikings, Broncos, Commanders, Browns, and Bills.
Since leaving the Vikings in 2018, Keenum ranks 49th out of 65 QBs via efficiency [EPA+CPOE (min.300 plays)]. Teams led by Keenum are 10-18 (.357), a win-loss record that ranks fourth-worst in the NFL during the timeframe.
Optimists would hope that he could rekindle his 2017 flair, especially with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason on the roster.
Who Else at QB2?
If the Vikings don’t explore Keenum but still desire a quasi-dependable QB2, these are the options:
- Joe Flacco
- Ryan Tannehill
- Trey Lance
- Drew Lock
- Mike White
Minnesota could also explore a low-risk trade for a player like Aidan O’Connell (Las Vegas Raiders) or Sam Howell (Seattle Seahawks).
FOX Sports‘ Jordan Schultz tweeted Friday, “Sources: The Vikings have had discussions with former Titans QB Ryan Tannehill about a potential deal. Talks are ongoing and nothing is imminent as of right now, sources tell NFL of FOX.”
So, it might just be Tannehill when it’s all said and done.
Minnesota recently ruled itself out of the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, a man who likely would’ve demanded or commanded a QB1 job ahead of the aforementioned McCarthy. Rodgers is tentatively expected to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Keenum turned 37 last month. Don’t forget him as a possibility, especially if Tannehill and Flacco sign elsewhere.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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