7 free-agent quarterbacks the Vikings could sign in 2022

Marcus Mariota

2021 Team: Marcus Mariota

Backing up Derek Carr in Las Vegas the past two seasons, the former Heisman Trophy winner has been patiently waiting for his next opportunity since losing the starting job to Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee.

Marcus Mariota possesses a unique skill set, being utilized as a Wildcat quarterback in some goal-line packages for the Raiders. In this role, Mariota has 22 rushes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in his career with the Raiders.

Should the Vikings retain Kirk Cousins for the foreseeable future, Mariota would provide Minnesota something the team has lacked for the entirety of the Cousins era, that being a competent backup quarterback.

Mariota made $3.5 million with the Raiders last year, which given Minnesota’s cap-space struggles is a significant amount for a backup quarterback. However, Mariota is a talented athlete that provides significantly more value than Sean Mannion.

He could push Cousins as a backup and the team can take comfort in playing Mariota should anything happen to Cousins in 2022. Let’s not forget how having depth at the quarterback position helped the Vikings reach the NFC Championship game in 2017, with Case Keenum stepping in for the injured Sam Bradford.