7 free-agent quarterbacks the Vikings could sign in 2022

Jameis Winston

2021 Team: New Orleans Saints

The free-agent class this year resembles the 2015 draft class in the sense that the top two quarterback options might be Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. Despite turnover struggles in Tampa Bay, including the miraculous 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions season in 2019, Winston has shown he is fully capable of being an NFL starter.

Prior to tearing his ACL this past season, Winston threw for 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions in seven starts. He had an incredible passing touchdown percentage of 8.7 percent, meaning that 8.7 percent of his attempted passes were touchdowns.

This would have led the NFL, and for context, six of the last eight NFL MVPs led the NFL in passing touchdown percentage, the only two leaders to not win MVP were Tony Romo in 2014 and Carson Wentz in 2017, who was well on his way to MVP honors before an ACL injury of his own.

Winston presents the Vikings with an interesting opportunity to reenact the Daunte Culpepper-Randy Moss connection with Winston and Justin Jefferson. With a $5.5 million cap hit last year, Winston is a solid option for the team should they decide to move on from Kirk Cousins this offseason.