Why treading water needs to end for the Vikings sooner than later

Have the Vikings hurt themselves by not attempting to get a franchise QB through the draft?

Drafting a rookie quarterback is an incredible avenue for team success when that player is successful. While there is a risk in drafting a rookie quarterback early on, the benefits are well worth the investment whenever the opportunity arises.

Minnesota has a history of poor drafting when it comes to the quarterback position, but that should not deter them from trying. The Chiefs, Bills, and Cardinals had an unfavorable history of drafting quarterbacks before landing a face of the franchise.

So who exactly have the Vikings missed out on because they invested in Kirk Cousins? Just last season, the Vikings were reportedly in the mix to trade up for Justin Fields after his brief slide in the draft, but they did not want to pay the price to move up for a potential franchise-saving move.

Fields was not great as a rookie, which is a fair assessment, but the traits are all there, and his flashes are enough to scare defenses. Now, Minnesota will have to meet Fields and the Bears twice a year until his time in Chicago runs out.

In 2018 when the Vikings originally signed Cousins, they were in the perfect spot to select Lamar Jackson. Jackson, who went 32nd overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, would have been a much better option for the Vikings over the past four years. On a rookie contract, Jackson was able to win the NFL MVP award and has a career record of 37-12.

Pairing Jackson with Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs, and Adam Thielen would have given the Vikings an unreal offense with few questions regarding the offensive line given Jackson’s ability to improvise. It is inarguable that Jackson can create and do more for himself than Kirk Cousins, and that does hold some value in the NFL.

Heading into 2020, the Vikings signed Kirk Cousins to an extension that ultimately kept them from searching elsewhere for a quarterback, but that was not the worst timing. The 2020 draft class did not feature a realistic quarterback for the Vikings within their range, though you could argue Jalen Hurts or Jordan Love were worth a shot.

Those two guys will get a pass here, but the Vikings have still missed out on other options because of the Kirk Cousins deal. While it would lead to a year or two of struggles, drafting a rookie quarterback to replace Kirk Cousins would alter the landscape of the Vikings.

They have to stop being scared of failure and must do better than wild card expectations. Losing a few seasons to get to the top of the NFC is not going to turn fans away. The Vikings have never won a Super Bowl, and there is nothing to lose by going all out for a rebuild that can bring one to Minnesota.

For far too long, the Vikings have treaded water and stayed relatively competitive but nowhere near good enough to be a threat in the NFC. The new front office needs to start fresh and go for the home run.