Vikings Trade Rumors: Four Teams Called Denver About Brock Osweiler

January 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) before the game against the New England Patriots in the 2013 AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Is it time to add a new name to the long list of prospective Viking quarterbacks for 2014?

Maybe not yet. But this is an interesting tidbit nonetheless:

Early Monday, Denver radio personality Peter Burns reported that the Broncos have received trade inquiries from as many as four teams about backup QB Brock Osweiler.

Burns could only identify one of the four teams, the Houston Texans.

The report says the Broncos are not interested in trading Osweiler.

Given their stated desire to add a quarterback, it’s natural to wonder if the Vikings may have been one of the three mystery teams that inquired about Osweiler.

The strapping 6-foot-8 Osweiler was taken in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Broncos, and immediately took a seat behind Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning. With Manning putting together back-to-back brilliant seasons, Osweiler has gotten very little opportunity to play.

At worst, the young Osweiler represents insurance behind the aging Manning. But could he have greater value to the Broncos if they flipped him for a draft pick?

What would Osweiler be worth in a trade? Would he come more cheaply than Ryan Mallett or Kirk Cousins, the other two QBs whose names have come up often in trade speculation this offseason?

I can’t see why Osweiler would be a worse prospect than either Mallett or Cousins. He was taken higher in the draft than either of those QBs. He is untested, but so are Mallett and Cousins. He has done less to hurt his stock than Cousins, who played at the end of last year and was not good.

If you’re just throwing out random speculation, Osweiler makes as much sense as anyone.

If the Vikings did call about Osweiler, then kudos to Rick Spielman for being thorough. He absolutely should call about any young quarterback he thinks might be available.

Osweiler seems far from an ideal solution to the QB problem, but you can say the same about every other QB who might be available via free agency, trade or the draft.

That’s what happens when you mess up your whole QB situation for years and end up with only Christian Ponder on the roster. You have to keep an open mind. You have to consider everyone with a pulse.

If the Vikings haven’t called about Osweiler, maybe they should.

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