8 cheap free agents that make sense for the Vikings in 2022
By Adam Carlson
A.J. McCarron, quarterback
It’s been a while since the Minnesota Vikings have had a capable backup quarterback. The past few seasons, the team has dealt with Sean Mannion and Trevor Siemian with poor results while trying to save money and not push Kirk Cousins.
The Vikings drafted Kellen Mond during the 2021 NFL Draft in the third round, but he likely isn’t ready to step in and be the team’s backup. That means bringing in a veteran who is cheap enough to not hurt the team, but capable enough to win a game if Kirk is unavailable.
At this point, A.J. McCarron is a backup. He won’t get another starting opportunity unless he can prove himself, so being behind one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL would be a great situation for the six-season veteran.
McCarron is 2-2 as a starter in the NFL and has thrown twice the touchdowns compared to interceptions over his career. Vikings fans will likely be rooting for Teddy Bridgewater or Ryan Fitzpatrick to be Cousins’ backup, but both of those are likely to come with a bigger price tag.