The Viking Age
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How the Minnesota Vikings can use the ‘cheap QB’ strategy

By Chris Schad

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams throws a pass against the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams throws a pass against the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Vikings may have questions about Kirk Cousins’ long-term future with the team. The success of other teams with cheaper options at QB, could persuade them to make a move sooner than expected.

Every year, teams are trying to find a new way to create an edge in building a contending roster. Last year, teams copied the Philadelphia Eagles approach to build a tenacious and deep defensive line which they rode to their first Super Bowl victory. Outside of that, every team seems to be trying to duplicate what the New England Patriots are doing on a yearly basis.

It may be early, but a trend that could be coming in the next couple of years is finding a young quarterback, grooming him and taking advantage of his cheap rookie deal to bolster the roster around him. This is a strategy that the Chicago Bears used to acquire Khalil Mack and the NFC North title this year and one that the Los Angeles Rams used to get Marcus Peters, Ndamukong Suh and extend other key pieces on the way to an NFC championship.

The Minnesota Vikings do not appear like they are looking for a quarterback of the future after signing Kirk Cousins last offseason. However, what happens if Cousins’ 2019 season is similar to the one he put up in 2018? Even if Cousins puts up the stats that he did this past season, it’s not set in stone that he’s a long-term solution at the position one year from now.

In what seems like a never-ending soap opera for this franchise, the talk again is what should the Minnesota Vikings do at quarterback? Should they continue to ride Cousins until the wheels fall off or should they draft his heir apparent and let Cousins walk in 2020?

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