Vikings express interest in backup quarterback option that could net Kwesi Adofo-Mensah a fourth-round pick
The backup quarterback position has been a contentious one for the Minnesota Vikings as free agency has progressed. There were too many discussions about the possibility of Aaron Rodgers signing with the Vikings, but that has been put to bed, especially after his visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday. Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported […]
The backup quarterback position has been a contentious one for the Minnesota Vikings as free agency has progressed. There were too many discussions about the possibility of Aaron Rodgers signing with the Vikings, but that has been put to bed, especially after his visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday.
Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported late Friday afternoon that the Vikings have had discussions with Ryan Tannehill to be their backup quarterback.
Vikings interested in Ryan Tannehill
The Vikings have been searching for a backup quarterback for some time and they might have found one in Tannehill. The 8th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, Tannehill had a contentious time with the Dolphins before being traded to the Tennessee Titans.
Tannehill saw a resurgence with the Titans in relief of Marcus Mariota, becoming the starter for the following four seasons. In his career, Tannehill has a record of 81-70 but a significantly better 39-24 record with the Titans.
His final days with the Titans weren't great, as his final two years saw him go 9-11 with a 17:13 TD:INT ratio. After spending 12 seasons in the NFL, Tannehill sat out the 2024 season with the hopes of potentially joining a team that needed a quarterback late in the year. He will be entering his age 37 season this year, with a similar path to former Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham.
The move to potentially sign Tannehill would be a smart one for two reasons:
- Tannehill was also an athletic quarterback selected in the top 10
- He wouldn't count toward the compensatory formula
This offseason, the Vikings and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have been doing a good job of maneuvering with the compensatory pick formula and are currently projected to receive third and fourth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Because Tannehill didn't play last season, he doesn't count toward the formula.
The other element is that Tannehill can show McCarthy how to maximize his abilities as a dual-threat guy, sharing his experiences of his failures in Miami and how he rose back up in Tennessee.
Plus, he's essentially a more athletic Kirk Cousins, which definitely works in this offense.
Vikings Top 30 NFL Draft visits tracker will provide many signals on how Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will prioritize prospects
The Vikings’ top 30 visits provide a lot of signal on who they might select
The Aaron Rodgers-Vikings discussion won’t stop thanks to the national media completely misunderstanding J.J. McCarthy’s situation
The Vikings are severely misunderstood
