Minnesota Vikings’ top 9 QB options after Kirk Cousins’ injury

It wasn’t that long ago that speculation centered on whether the Minnesota Vikings should try to move quarterback Kirk Cousins before the NFL trade deadline, which expires Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Now that the script has completely flipped, the Vikes have successfully put themselves in a position to consider an outside replacement for Cousins, who tore his Achilles tendon Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, and the team announced Monday that surgery is imminent. admitted.

Cousins, who had a full no-trade clause when playing out the final season of his contract, probably wasn’t going anywhere, whether it was with the New York Jets or elsewhere, but in recent weeks he has The reason became clear. Whatever his flaws – a lack of overall success in high-profile games – he has been one of the league’s most consistent players since emerging as a starter in Washington in 2015. He was one of the most durable passers. He has never started more than 15 games here. One season has passed since then, and his run of confidence is now coming to an end.

And the timing is very unfortunate.

Not only did Cousins push the Vikings back to .500 with three straight wins after a 1-4 start, but Minnesota, the accidental NFC North champion a year ago, was in the NFC by the end of Sunday’s game. He was selected as the third wild card team. . And while the Vikes may have caught a break with Cousins going down before the trade deadline, if that’s the path GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell choose, it’s possible to close the deal. I was given less than two days to do so.

(And there’s no clear Plan B QB on the roster. Rookie Jalen Hall was lost on Sunday. Veteran Nick Mullens was placed on injured reserve with a back injury earlier this month, but He could return by Week 10, with fellow journeyman Sean Mannion starting. Cousins, who has not been vaccinated, was placed on the COVID-19 list for the final game of the 2021 season. (He is on the practice team.)

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Therefore, Minnesota does not need to take any action. But it seems like a stretch to expect a green rookie with an NFL record of 5-15 and two career backups to maintain their postseason momentum for another nine games. So… who would be the alternative candidate?

free agent player

Nick Foles: He didn’t do very well in his two starts for the Indianapolis Colts last season, and may be perfectly content to never play bad football again. But he has a reputation as an outstanding reliever, most famously for his heroics in the 2017 playoffs, which culminated in Super Bowl 52 MVP honors at Minnesota.

Matt Ryan: The 2016 league MVP didn’t perform well in 12 starts for the Colts in 2022. After Aaron Rodgers was injured in Week 1, Ryan claimed he had no interest in potentially leaving the CBS broadcast booth and joining the Jets, but that doesn’t seem to have completely closed the door on his retirement. is.

Carson Wentz: The free agent QB market isn’t loaded with talent at the end of October, but he’s probably the best available, at least from a physical standpoint. And playing closer to his North Dakota roots probably has some appeal for Wentz. The question is whether the Vikings are willing to go on the roller coaster ride he tends to take.

trade candidate

Commander Jacoby Brissett, Washington: He has never led a team to the postseason. But he’s a near-universal favorite in every locker room he’s ever flourished in, with 48 NFL starts on his resume and an expiring contract with a team on the verge of a yard sale. I’m welcoming you. A solid option.

Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers: He has started 167 games in the NFL, including the playoffs, and has developed into a top reserve player in recent years. And while his ability to coach rookie QB Bryce Young is certainly valuable to Carolina, the exchange rate may be more important to a Panthers team that spent a lot of draft capital to acquire Young. Dalton, 36, is under contract through next season, which could make him even more attractive to Minnesota given Cousins’ injury.

Trey Lance, Dallas Cowboys: The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft (by the San Francisco 49ers) is clearly very talented, if inexperienced, given his limited reps at both the college and NFL levels. be. He comes from Minnesota and could be an especially interesting option for the Vikings considering Cousins’ physical and financial future is uncertain. But Adofo-Mensah knows where the relatively high price tag starts, considering Dallas traded a fourth-rounder to the Niners to acquire Lance’s services before the season.

Case Keenum, Houston Texans: It’s hard not to like this. Keenum, currently No. 3 behind rookie CJ Stroud, led the Vikings to the NFC title game on a magical run in 2017, his best season as a pro. He’s also under contract through next year and worked with O’Connell when he was in Washington in 2019, so in theory Keenum’s learning curve with this strategy is flatter than most. It will be. And considering Stroud probably has little left to teach him, will Houston really take him hostage?

Davis Mills (Texans): Stroud’s primary backup, the 2021 third-rounder, has played far more NFL football (26 starts) than his draft mate Lance, and is under extremely difficult circumstances in Houston. be. Mills is another option who could be a placeholder in 2024.

Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans: He’s currently out with an ankle injury, and even if Tannehill’s contract is extended after the season, the remainder of his $27 million base salary will certainly be a source of concern. Still, he has a Pro Bowl pedigree and still helped lead Tennessee to a No. 1 playoff seed two years ago, giving him time to learn the system while Mannion and Mullens hold the fort. recovery may fit the situation well. In the short term. It’s worth considering whether they can work out the finances, especially since rookie Will Revis’ performance Sunday suggests Tannehill may already be playing his final snaps in Nashville.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X (formerly Twitter) @NateDavis.

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Minnesota Vikings’ top 9 QB options after Kirk Cousins’ injury

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