Minnesota Vikings to sign a quarterback to back up Kirk Cousins in 2019
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly agreed to terms with quarterback Sean Mannion to act as the team’s backup quarterback to Kirk Cousins.
One of the biggest question marks on the roster of the Minnesota Vikings heading into the 2019 NFL season was concerning who the franchise would have as the backup quarterback to Kirk Cousins.
That question was answered on Sunday, Apr. 7 when reports emerged that the team would be signing free agent quarterback Sean Mannion to perform that duty, replacing the exiting Trevor Siemian.
Mike Garafolo from NFL Network shared the news on his official Twitter account:
#Vikings are signing QB Sean Mannion, source says. The former #Rams’ third-rounder heads to Minny, where they’re looking for a backup for Kirk Cousins now that Trevor Siemian has signed with the #Jets.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 7, 2019
In four seasons with the Rams, Mannion has played in ten games, starting one of them. During that time, he completed 33 of his 53 passing attempts (62.3%) for 258 yards and one interception. While those statistics aren’t impressive, he does have some upside thanks to showing potential during his rookie season.
This news may upset some Vikings fans who were hoping promising young quarterback Kyle Sloter would be in line for the backup gig, but it appears he will need to continue working hard to prove his worth before that opportunity presents itself.
But, for now, the signing of Sean Mannion pushes the need at the quarterback position down the line, opening up more possibilities for what the team will do in the 2019 NFL Draft or any signings they may make later in free agency.
Of course, Kirk Cousins hasn’t missed a game in the last four seasons, playing in all 16 regular season contests since the start of his 2015 NFL season. He is one of the more durable and dependable starting quarterbacks in the league, so there is a chance the backup may never step on the field.
Star Tribune beat writer Ben Goessling confirms that the deal is for one season, but has not revealed the financial details on Twitter.
Sean Mannion is getting a one-year deal from the Vikings, a source said. New backup for Kirk Cousins.
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) April 7, 2019
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Congratulations to Sean Mannion on landing a role with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2019 NFL season. Hopefully, he can be a solid fallback option for the team behind their high-priced starting quarterback.