Which free-agent quarterbacks might the Minnesota Vikings bring in to be their backup next season?
Despite the rumors floating around this offseason of a possible departure, Kirk Cousins is still expected to open the 2021 season as the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
Even with Cousins returning for another year, this doesn’t mean the Vikings won’t be looking to add a new quarterback to their roster during the next few months.
Minnesota’s No. 2 signal-caller for the last two years, Sean Mannion, is a free agent this offseason, and his return for 2021 is not a guarantee. It will depend on whether or not the Vikings believe they can find a better backup option for Cousins in free agency or the NFL Draft this year.
If Minnesota decides to turn to free agency to find their next No. 2 quarterback, there are plenty of options for the team to choose from. Just about all of them would easily be better choices than Mannion.
So who are some of the free-agent quarterbacks the Vikings could consider adding to their roster for the 2021 season?
Tyrod Taylor
Talk about someone who has experienced a bit of bad luck recently, Tyrod Taylor lost his starting gig with the Los Angeles Chargers this past season thanks to a team doctor puncturing one of his lungs during an attempt to inject him with a pain-killer.
Taylor was forced to miss a few games, which opened the door for Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert to take over, and the young passer played so well that he remained the starter for the rest of the 2020 campaign.
So now, Taylor will be a free agent, and he has to decide if he’s still going to pursue a starting job or if he will be satisfied with being the No. 2 guy on someone’s roster. If he’s okay with being a backup in 2021, then the Vikings should definitely consider signing him.
Taylor has tons of experience in the NFL as both a starter and a backup. He’s also worked in the past with former Minnesota offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, whose offense the Vikings are expected to continue running in 2021.
In terms of free agents who could lead Minnesota to some wins if Kirk Cousins has to miss a few games next season, Taylor is currently one of the best options that is expected to be available.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
If it feels like Ryan Fitzpatrick has been playing in the NFL forever, it’s because he basically has. Fitzpatrick got his first opportunity back in 2005 with the St. Louis Rams, and since then, he’s suited up for a total of eight teams in 16 seasons.
He’s been in the NFL so long that he was actually a member of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008 during Mike Zimmer’s first year as the team’s defensive coordinator (when Zimmer had slightly fewer gray hairs).
As a 38-year-old free agent this offseason, Fitzpatrick must decide if he wants to continue his career as a professional football player or if the time has come for him to hang up his cleats. If he wants to keep playing, Zimmer should give his former colleague a call to see if he would want to be Kirk Cousins’ backup for next season.
Even though he has continued to float around the NFL during the last few years, Fitzpatrick is still capable of helping a team win a few games when needed.
In his last three seasons, the veteran quarterback has posted a passer rating of 91.8, which is better than other notable signal-callers from around the league, including Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, Cam Newton, and Carson Wentz.
Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton is someone who Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is very familiar with. During Zimmer’s last three seasons running the defense for the Bengals, Dalton was Cincinnati’s starting quarterback.
Minnesota’s head coach had a front-row seat as Dalton helped lead the Bengals to multiple playoff appearances. So Zimmer knows the veteran quarterback is capable of helping a team get some wins if needed.
Last season, Dalton spent his first year outside of Cincinnati with the Dallas Cowboys as the backup for Dak Prescott. He actually ended up starting a total of nine games after Prescott went down with an unfortunate ankle injury in Week 5. Dalton was even able to help the Cowboys get a win over Zimmer and the Vikings in Week 11.
He’s clearly okay with being a backup at this point in his career. The question is whether or not he would be willing to ditch his home state of Texas to reunite with Zimmer in the freezing cold of Minnesota?
Joe Flacco
This past season with the New York Jets seemed to be the first time that Joe Flacco was okay with being a backup instead of a starter. Flacco hasn’t played like a starting-caliber quarterback in a few years, but he should still have some value as a No. 2 guy.
Not only does the veteran passer have experience in running the Kubiak offense, but he also helped lead a team to a Super Bowl victory not too long ago.
Even though his abilities on the field are trending in the wrong direction, Flacco would be able to provide Kirk Cousins with another perspective on the Kubiak offensive scheme and maybe teach him some new tricks. He could also share with Cousins what it takes to perform at the level necessary to lead a team to a Super Bowl.
While Flacco would still be an upgrade over Sean Mannion, it’s not by much. Minnesota would likely be just as doomed if Flacco had to fill in for Cousins instead of Mannion next season. But if the Vikings want their backup to help with Cousins’ progression, then Flacco could be someone they might consider signing.
C.J. Beathard
If the Vikings are looking to find a backup quarterback for next season that is younger than Sean Mannion, then C.J. Beathard could be someone they consider bringing in this year.
Beathard has spent his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers after they selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Iowa. During his time with the 49ers, he’s started a total of 12 games, and he’s only been able to lead his team to wins in two of these contests.
Despite San Francisco’s lack of success with him out on the field, the 27-year-old quarterback did show signs of progress last season in his two opportunities to start.
Beathard was the 49ers starter in their final two matchups of the 2020 campaign, and in these games, the veteran signal-caller completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 455 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions, which resulted in a 110.5 passer rating. At the very least, Beathard has much more upside than someone like Mannion.
Blaine Gabbert
Back in 2011, Blaine Gabbert was one of four quarterbacks that were selected during the first 15 picks of the NFL Draft. Gabbert actually ended up getting drafted two spots before the Vikings selection in the first round that year, which turned out to be the legendary Christian Ponder.
Despite his career numbers not being any better than Ponder’s, Gabbert has been able to carve himself a role in the league as a backup quarterback for the last few years. This past season, he had the opportunity to be the No. 2 guy for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers behind Tom Brady.
One has to believe Gabbert learned a lot in the past year as Brady’s backup, and this knowledge he gained could be very useful for someone like Kirk Cousins.
6 realistic free agents the Vikings could sign in 2021
Since they're not expected to have a ton of spending money this offseason, who are some of the more realistic free agents the Minnesota Vikings could sign?
As was the case with both Joe Flacco and C.J. Beathard, Gabbert isn’t someone the Vikings would bring in for his on-field skills. If Minnesota were going to sign him this year, it would be for him to use what he’s learned during his career in the league to help further Cousins’ progression.