Minnesota Vikings: Bringing Keenum back is fine, just don’t use the franchise tag to do it

Using the franchise tag in order to keep the quarterback in town for 2018 is not a decision the Minnesota Vikings should make this offseason.

Since the day after the Minnesota Vikings loss in the 2017 NFC Championship, much of the talk surrounding the team has been about who their starting quarterback is going to be for next season. Will the Vikings select a signal caller from their 2017 roster or will they bring in someone new from the outside?

Minnesota has a number of routes than can take when making this decision during the offseason. One possible option the Vikings have is to use the franchise tag on one of their three impending free-agent quarterbacks (Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, or Teddy Bridgewater).

If Minnesota actually decided to actually use the franchise tag, it would most likely be used on Keenum. And that would be a mistake.

This isn’t saying that the Vikings should not re-sign Keenum this offseason. But if they want the quarterback to return in 2018, it should be done with a multi-year contract instead of the franchise tag.

Keenum’s current market value (around $21 million per year) and the projected franchise tag amount for quarterbacks in 2018 (almost $24 million) are not the issue either. He’s going to get paid a lot this offseason regardless.

But Minnesota’s decision for who their starting quarterback will be in 2018 needs to be one that is for the long term.

The Vikings’ roster is not currently in a state of where they need to scramble for one final run at the Super Bowl before everyone leaves or retires. Of Minnesota’s current top players, the majority of them are under 30-years-old as the front office has been building this team so that it can be successful for a number of seasons and not just one or two.

Using the franchise tag on Keenum would look more like the Vikings are more concerned about their success in 2018 and not on the near future.

Minnesota Vikings

Say Keenum plays at a similar level next season as he did in 2017. Minnesota may want him back in 2019, but not at a higher salary than what he made in 2018.

This would not be an option for the Vikings in 2019 as the franchise tag value will have increased like it does every offseason. So after paying Keenum almost $24 million in 2018, Minnesota would be looking at giving the quarterback closer to $30 million in 2019 if they were forced to use the franchise tag again.

By giving Keenum a multi-year contract (similar to what the Chicago Bears gave Mike Gleenon last offseason), the Vikings would be insuring themselves no matter how he performs in 2018.

If he plays well, then Minnesota has him under contract for 2019 and beyond. If not, then the Vikings can get out of Keenum’s deal without too much pain and suffering next year.

Next: Where will Case Keenum end up in 2018?

Of course, if he actually doesn’t end up performing well in 2018, then Minnesota will likely be searching for a new starting quarterback, once again, during next year’s offseason.