7 other backup quarterback options for the Vikings to consider for 2022

Nick Foles

• Current Status: Under contract with the Indianapolis Colts

Before transferring to the University of Arizona to finish up his college career, Nick Foles was a member of the same quarterback room as Kirk Cousins at Michigan State.

Since their time together at Michigan State, both Foles and Cousins have taken very different paths in their professional football careers.

Cousins has been putting up impressive numbers and cashing in with big contracts, while Foles helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl win in 2017 (inside U.S. Bank Stadium) in addition to having stints with the Jaguars and Chicago Bears.

Currently, Foles is a member of the Colts, where he is expected to enter the regular season as the top backup behind Matt Ryan. With Indianapolis, Foles gets to reunite with former Philadelphia offensive coordinator Frank Reich, who is now in his fifth year as the head coach of the Colts.

The former Eagles quarterback signed a two-year deal with Indianapolis earlier this offseason, but the Colts would be left with zero dead money if someone like the Vikings came along with an enticing enough offer to trade for him in the near future.

Since Reich probably doesn’t want Indianapolis to trade away Foles, it might take an offer that includes a mid-round draft pick for Minnesota to acquire him. But it would quickly become a winning trade for the Vikings as Foles would be a significant upgrade as the team’s No. 2 quarterback over both Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion.