12 QBs the Vikings Could Acquire, Ranging From Realistic to Ridiculous
The Vikings need a new quarterback.
Kirk Cousins' season-ending Achilles tear on Sunday puts the franchise in a tough spot. They've won three in a row to get back to 4-4, but now they find themselves without their starting QB in the middle of the season.
"Quite honestly, this is going to be a challenge," head coach Kevin O'Connell said on Monday. "But I believe this is why we’re here — to help navigate through tough times and ultimately challenge, develop, encourage and then have confidence."
There are a bunch of options on the table. Rookie Jaren Hall stepped in when Cousins went down, and he's — at least for now — the clear favorite to start Sunday's game against the Falcons. Nick Mullens is on injured reserve but will be eligible to return soon.
There are also a wide range of external candidates that could make sense within the context of the Vikings' competitive rebuild. Maybe that's a free agent. Maybe that's a trade before Tuesday's deadline at 3 p.m. central time. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported on Monday that the Vikings haven't had significant conversations about trading for a QB, but it doesn't feel like something that can be ruled out.
"Is it a short-term only thing?" O'Connell said. "Is it something that could be more long-term? Is it something that truly is an upgrade versus just the sheer dealing with the reality of a tough situation right now? That’s what we have to work through."
This was the quote of the day from O'Connell: "You wouldn’t believe some of the things on my cell phone I’ve received over here in less than 24 hours."
Let's go over 12 potential quarterbacks the Vikings could add, ranging from realistic to completely absurd.
Colt McCoy (FA)
This feels like the most likely option. McCoy overlapped with O'Connell in Washington from 2017-19 and worked out for the Vikings earlier this month when Mullens got hurt. He's 37, but he made eight total starts over the last three seasons. McCoy could serve as Hall's backup or be in the mix to start.
Carson Wentz (FA)
Carson Wentz is still a free agent.
If the Vikings want to make more of a splashy free agent addition, Wentz is probably the best player out there. He wants to play and has been biding his time for an opportunity. Wentz started 92 games over the past seven seasons and has hit high peaks as a playmaker. His final year in Philadelphia and his 2022 season with Washington went poorly, but he actually played pretty well with the Colts in 2021. It could take him a bit to learn the system, but Wentz's raw talent might be able to show up in an O'Connell-coached offense that features players like Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw, and Brian O'Neill.
Case Keenum (Texans)
Would the Vikings consider making a trade to bring back Keenum for another run? He's currently the third-string QB in Houston behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills. The Texans seem to value his leadership, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't consider moving him for a late-round pick. Keenum has made just two starts since 2019, but he's an intriguing option nonetheless. He overlapped with GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in Cleveland for a couple years.
Jacoby Brissett (Commanders)
Brissett, Sam Howell's backup in Washington, is the kind of player who could legitimately help keep the Vikings' season afloat. He's got 48 career starts and a 2-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio. It might take slightly more to acquire him than it would to land someone like Keenum.
Andy Dalton (Panthers)
Dalton is a veteran backup with a ton of starting experience. He's got 167 career starts under his belt and looked great filling in for Bryce Young in a game earlier this season. The Panthers probably want to keep him around as a mentor for Young, but who knows?
Jameis Winston (Saints)
How fun would Jameis Winston in Minnesota be?
Let's start shooting for the moon a little bit. Winston is currently backing up Derek Carr in New Orleans, but the former No. 1 overall pick has been coming up in fan discussions about possible trades for years now. Winston, the only player in NFL history with at least 30 passing touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season, would be a fun experiment in Minnesota. He threw for 5,100 yards in that 2019 season and could air it out to the Vikings' talented group of weapons. The usual questions about scheme fit and the Saints' willingness to trade Winston make this one quite unlikely.
Ryan Tannehill (Titans)
This would be something. Tannehill, who is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, may have just lost his job after rookie Will Levis dazzled with four touchdown passes in his NFL debut on Sunday. Would the Titans consider moving Tannehill if the Vikings came to them with a significant offer? He's been a full-time starter since 2012, went 30-13 between 2019 and 2021, and was remarkably efficient in '19 and '20.
Joe Flacco (FA)
Flacco, 38, is a former Super Bowl MVP who hasn't hung up the cleats yet. But would he even be an upgrade on Hall or Mullens? He's gone 3-14 as a starter since leaving the Ravens after the 2018 season.
Trey Lance (Cowboys)
Did you guys know Trey Lance was born in Minnesota?
Is there any chance Lance could get traded twice in a two-month span? The Cowboys acquired him from the 49ers before the season, but he's listed as their third-stringer behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. Lance is a Minnesota native who was taken third overall a couple years ago. This would be a fun project for O'Connell if he wants a developmental option with a higher ceiling than Hall.
Kyler Murray (Cardinals)
We're getting into extreme longshot territory here. Murray is probably the most talented quarterback in the league who isn't currently a starter. The former No. 1 overall pick, rookie of the year, and two-time Pro Bowler tore his ACL last season, but he's now healthy. The Cardinals are reportedly expected to start rookie Clayton Tune this weekend; would they consider moving Murray and embracing a full-on tank? This would be complicated for the Vikings because of what it would cost in terms of draft pick compensation and taking on Murray's big contract. They'd have to go all-in on Murray as their long-term guy instead of looking to draft a quarterback next April.
Matt Ryan (FA)
Ryan might be broadcasting games these days — he called the Vikings' season opener for CBS — but he hasn't technically retired. Could O'Connell lure the 2016 MVP out of the booth and onto the field? At 38, he might not have much left, but he'd come with a reasonably high floor this year given his track record of production.
Tom Brady (Retired)
I'm 99.99 percent sure this isn't happening. Brady seems to really be retired for good this time. But what if he isn't? What if the Vikings went the 2009 Brett Favre route and lured the most accomplished player ever out of retirement for one last ride at age 46? Hey, he did play with O'Connell in New England way back in the day and knows Brian Flores pretty well... (There's also the slight issue of Brady being a part-owner of the Raiders).
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