Getty Image / Nic Antaya
The Minnesota Vikings are now without a starting quarterback. Incumbent franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins has now moved on, leaving a big void in the franchise.
Cousins agreed to a pricey contract with the Atlanta Falcons on the first day of free agency on Monday.
Kirk Cousins to Atlanta, per @MikeMcCartney7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024
Cousins’ contract is for 4-years, totals $180 million, and has $100 million guaranteed.
Now, the Vikings need to make a move for a quarterback. They have a few options. They could get a stopgap option in free agency or potentially target someone like Trey Lance in a trade. But, I think there’s one option that makes the most sense for the Vikings franchise.
I wouldn’t say the Vikings are in win-now mode. But, they’re not in a complete rebuild either. It’s a pretty solid roster, led by a trio of great pass-catchers in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson. And, it has a good duo of offensive tackles in Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.
Simply put, they’re set up for a rookie quarterback to come in and succeed right away, as he has pieces around him to make it easier. Plus, head coach Kevin O’Connell is a former quarterbacks coach renowned for his work with quarterbacks.
The Vikings, who finished 7-10 last year, have the 11th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With a lot of quarterbacks getting first-round buzz in the upcoming draft, it’s very likely someone like JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., or Bo Nix drops to them there.
But, they seem to be in a perfect position to make a huge swing and trade up for Caleb Williams, Drake. Maye, or Jayden Daniels. Sometimes, teams make mistakes trading up for a quarterback when they don’t have enough talent around him to succeed and the picks they trade away to get him are no longer available. That’s the mistake the Carolina Panthers made last year when trading up to the first pick to get Bryce Young. One of the picks they traded, this year’s first-rounder, has ended up as the first-overall pick, a pick the Panthers can’t use.
But, that’s not the Minnesota Vikings. Using their first-round pick as a centerpiece of a possible trade up into the top five to get the quarterback they want would be a wise move.
The top three teams in the NFL Draft order, Chicago, Washington, and New England, are all likely to target quarterbacks. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, picking fourth, have committed to Kyler Murray for at least another season. They could be a team that would be willing to trade down as they look to rebuild their roster.
But, that may not be high enough to get one of those four guys. And, even if you like someone in that second tier of quarterbacks, I don’t think a team will mortgage the future for them.
Out of those three teams picking at the top, the Patriots are the one that may be most likely to trade out of the pick. Picking third, the guy they like could be off the board at that point. Plus, compared to Chicago and Washington, their roster has a ton of holes. Trading down for a lot more draft capital could be the good move long-term there.
No matter what happens, the Vikings’ quarterback situation is one of the offseason’s most intriguing storylines.