5 most disappointing QBs the Vikings struggled to win with
By Randy Smith
Matt Cassel
The man responsible for Joe Webb switching to wide receiver was another quarterback that the Vikings couldn’t simply win with, none other than journeyman Matt Cassel.
Cassel made his claim to fame during the 2008 season when playing for the Patriots, filling in for Tom Brady, who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. Cassel went 10-5 as a starter, but he benefited from having most pieces from the 16-0 Patriots the year before, including Minnesota legend Randy Moss.
Cassel would go on to be traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, but performance and injuries found himself signing a contract in the Twin Cities. Throughout the 2013 season, Cassel had hot and cold performances that earned him the starting job in 2014, but he had his replacement drafted in Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
After a foot injury against the New Orleans Saints paved the way for Bridgewater to remain the starter and try his hand at becoming the Vikings quarterback of the future, Cassel was traded to the Bills in the following offseason.
From there, he spent time as a backup on several teams, such as the Cowboys, Titans, and Lions, but he was never once thought of as a franchise quarterback. Much like his time in Minnesota, he may have been great in garbage time or in a game or two, but he was never the long-term answer.