The Viking Age
FanSided

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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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

How the Vikings can pull this off

At least for the 2019 season, Kirk Cousins will be the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. According to Over The Cap, Cousins’ 2019 cap number is $29 million and his contract includes a full no-trade clause through its entirety, which expires after the 2020 season.

If Cousins has a bounce back year and gets the Vikings into a deep playoff run, then all will be well and the Vikings would likely pursue an extension with the then 32-year-old quarterback entering next offseason. If it’s more of what Vikings fans saw this year, general manager Rick Spielman (or whomever takes his place) will strongly have to consider the future.

The disclaimer here is that the future could be considered this offseason. With Trevor Siemian a free agent, the Vikings may have a need for a backup quarterback if they don’t want to roll with Kyle Sloter. One potential solution here is drafting Will Grier, who NFL insider Benjamin Albright reported that was under the watch of several Minnesota offensive coaches during Senior Bowl week.

If the Vikings don’t select Grier or another quarterback, the Vikings may look closely at the 2020 quarterback class. That class contains several quarterbacks that could go in the first round including Alabama’s Tua Tagoviola, Georgia’s Jake Fromm and Oregon’s Justin Herbert.

Drafting a quarterback in 2020 would mean learning a year under Cousins before hitting the field and in the 2021 offseason, the Vikings could use the $31 million off the books to help build a roster around their new franchise quarterback.

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