Minnesota Vikings have a backup quarterback problem on their hands with some intriguing options to fix it
The backup quarterback spot is a tough one for the Vikings, and they might have to get aggressive to fix it
We are two weeks into Minnesota Vikings training camp practice and one of the biggest storylines is at the quarterback position, but it’s not about J.J. McCarthy.
It’s the backup quarterback spot.
Throughout the offseason, it was a big talking point for the Vikings. They tried to keep Daniel Jones in the fold, but he saw a pathway to starting with the Indianapolis Colts and decided to go there in free agency. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chose not to address it until day three of the NFL Draft in moving down 30 spots to acquire Sam Howell. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a great training camp for him.
At what point should the Vikings end up pursuing a backup quarterback? During training camp of 2022, the Vikings ended up making a move to get Nick Mullens before the end of the preseason, and it came right after they played the Las Vegas Raiders. Who could be the next addition if they do choose to add another option at backup quarterback? There are a few players they could make a move for.
Trey Lance
Trey Lance has been linked to the Vikings on multiple occasions over the course of the last few years. Many people, including me, believed that Lance could be a good developmental option for head coach Kevin O’Connell.
He’s had a tough road ever since breaking his ankle in week two of the 2022 season, and spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys as their third quarterback. He’s already played a game with the Los Angeles Chargers this preseason and looked really good. Could it have been a change in scenery that did the trick?
What still makes Lance interesting is that he’s thrown less than 1,000 passes in live game action since high school. At a certain point, the lack of development can lead to him being an intriguing option, especially with someone like O’Connell’s track record.
Teddy Bridgewater
As long as he’s in the National Football League, I’ll forever be a fan of Teddy Bridgewater. He’s not just a really good person, but Bridgewater has the mental makeup and leadership to be a successful backup quarterback.
Earlier this week, Bridgewater made it clear that he was looking to return to the NFL after everything that transpired at Miami Northwestern High School. Does he have the arm strength to be good enough when he goes into the game? O’Connell likely can make something work with him as he does for any quarterback who plays for him.
Carson Wentz
Of all the quarterbacks on this list, Carson Wentz might be the most intriguing. A former number two overall pick, Wentz was an MVP candidate in 2017 before tearing his ACL ahead of the Eagles’ Super Bowl win. He struggled over the course of the next few years, including bouncing around to the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders before being resigned to the ranks of a backup quarterback.
What Wentz provides is a player who can rip the football down the middle of the field with some gusto and rushing ability. However, he has some of the same issues that Howell does with processing. With Wentz being a free agent, he’s an easy target to bring in.
Kirk Cousins
The most popular option for the Vikings has been Kirk Cousins. Many believe that he will be available for the Vikings to potentially trade for, since he was benched at the end of last season with the Atlanta Falcons. There are two potential roadblocks here: Cousins has a massive contract and his presence could cause unnecessary distractions for McCarthy.
If the Vikings were to trade for Cousins, he would have a base salary of $27.5 million come with him. The Vikings currently have $23.5 million in salary cap space per Over The Cap before Josh Metellus’ extension is factored in. It would be a lot to add that kind of salary to the cap.
Along with that, Cousins was the most divisive Vikings quarterback in the last 30+ years. Adding him back to the fold could be a detriment to McCarthy’s growth. Based on what we know about McCarthy, he’s likely to brush it off, but why put him in that position?
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