The Vikings gained their third straight recreation Sunday in routing the Packers. However additionally they misplaced their quarterback, with Kirk Cousins struggling a season-ending Achilles tear. It is an ill-timed blow for a group that had begun constructing momentum within the NFC North, however it’s a hurdle Minnesota should clear rapidly if it intends to stay within the postseason combine.
That is simpler stated than finished, in fact. The one different wholesome QB on the Vikings roster is rookie Jaren Corridor, a fifth-round BYU product who threw his first NFL passes in opposition to Inexperienced Bay in Week 8. Veteran backup Nick Mullens is on injured reserve with a again subject, whereas former No. 2 Sean Mannion simply rejoined the group’s observe squad earlier this month.
Odds are, a kind of three QBs will exchange Cousins within the brief time period. However what if coach Kevin O’Connell and Co. are determined to not squander the Vikings’ rise to 4-4? This can be a franchise proper in the course of a “aggressive rebuild,” as common supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah put it this offseason, however with a wild card bid nonetheless properly inside attain, an emergency improve could possibly be attainable.
In that case, listed below are 12 totally different candidates to attract the Vikings’ curiosity:
Commerce targets
The previous Professional Bowler is well essentially the most completed veteran set to be obtainable forward of Tuesday’s commerce deadline, and the Titans needs to be keen to promote after rookie Will Levis’ dynamic debut in opposition to the Falcons. The issue is, even when Tennessee agreed to eat a few of Tannehill’s expensive contract, the growing old signal-caller continues to be recovering from his personal harm, a high-ankle sprain. Now does not really feel just like the time for the Vikings to pay something of worth for an inferior starter with an even bigger observe report of medical points. However Tannehill’s historical past as a serviceable, playoff-caliber play-action passer would make him a comparatively high-upside rental.
Hidden away in Dallas because the No. 3 QB behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush, the short-lived face of the 49ers continues to be simply 23, and Minnesota reportedly mentioned a possible commerce for his providers within the offseason. He is nonetheless a complete unknown as an NFL passer, however that is an athlete who went No. 3 total simply two years in the past. He is additionally one thing of a hometown hero, rising up in Minnesota and starring for NDSU earlier than his injury-riddled run in San Francisco. The Cowboys favored his upside sufficient to accumulate him in August, however maybe Dallas would promote him for a better worth now. He’d be an intriguing long-term swing for Vikings brass.
The Panthers like Dalton as a trusty mentor for No. 1 choose Bryce Younger, however the latter has lastly begun to indicate indicators of his personal life as an NFL QB, and it isn’t like anybody’s actually unavailable on a 1-6 group forward of the deadline. Dalton, in the meantime, is the definition of a plug-and-play signal-caller, providing largely serviceable spot-starter work with the Saints and Panthers the final two years.
The Saints most likely favor to maintain Winston as Derek Carr’s backup, angling for their very own piece of the NFC playoff image. However the former starter can also be set to hit free company after the season, giving him worth as a possible rental. He is much more of a risk-taker than, say, Cousins, however he proved in his first short-lived stint as Saints QB1 that he is able to controlling the ball with assist.
This can be a lengthy shot, however even contemplating Jones’ statistical rebound the previous couple of weeks, the previous first-rounder has not often discovered constantly agency footing because the Patriots’ starter beneath Invoice Belichick. It is unlikely the Vikings could be speeding to land him, then, however he is at the least received some similarities to Cousins in that he operates finest as a pure pocket passer making fast reads.
Forged apart in Houston for promising rookie C.J. Stroud, Mills was vulnerable to premature turnovers but additionally had little or no assist throughout his two years because the Texans’ high QB. With Stroud off to a red-hot begin in his profession, the Texans could possibly be open to transferring Mills, who’s simply 25 with 26 begins beneath his belt. You could possibly do loads worse for an emergency pickup, and he is signed by means of 2024.
At 35, Keenum’s finest days are behind him, and Houston particularly signed and saved him as a mentor for rookie C.J. Stroud. However with Davis Mills in place because the succesful No. 2, why would not they contemplate a proposal? Keenum labored beneath O’Connell with Washington in 2019, and he famously captained the Vikings’ unbelievable NFC title-game bid again in 2017.
Like Mac Jones, Zappe most likely does not have a ton of worth exterior New England for the time being; in reality, different groups have freely handed on the previous fourth-rounder when he is bounced between the Pats’ energetic roster and observe squad. But when the Vikings are simply on the lookout for any pocket-passing competitors down the stretch, the gutsy Western Kentucky product might come low-cost.
Free brokers
If it weren’t for Joshua Dobbs’ last-minute addition through commerce, McCoy may nonetheless be beginning for the Cardinals as Kyler Murray’s fill-in. At 37, he does not supply way more than, say, Nick Mullens as a possible Cousins alternative, however he does have extra beginning expertise — 36 video games in comparison with 17 — and frolicked with O’Connell in Washington from 2017-2019.
The previous Eagles star has been eyeing one other alternative since his launch from Washington, to no avail. And his tendency to play hero ball runs counter to Cousins’ extra managed method. However Wentz has a Midwest background, hailing from NDSU, and possibly gives essentially the most big-play juice of any veteran nonetheless in the marketplace. He reportedly drew a sniff from the Chiefs in the summertime.
Foles has solely actually thrived when enjoying for the Eagles — it was his clutch arm, bear in mind, that helped bury the Vikings in that 2017 NFC title recreation, which led to Philly’s first Super Bowl win. However the man is a satisfactory pocket thrower when protected, and he’d be a simple promote within the locker room as a beloved teammate.
The smallish however gutsy ex-Rams backup spent two years beneath O’Connell in Los Angeles, and now he is resigned to practice-squad duties in Tampa Bay behind Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. Technically he isn’t a free agent, then, however he could possibly be claimed and activated to the Vikings’ game-day roster if Minnesota wished one other arm to throw into the combo down the stretch.
