When free agency begins later this month, which quarterbacks could the Minnesota Vikings end up signing?
NFL Free Agency is just a few weeks away. The Minnesota Vikings will be looking to add some veteran depth to certain positions on their roster.
The defensive side of the ball needs the most work. This unit was the reason the Vikings lost in the playoffs, as they simply couldn’t stop a single drive. They could look for help at cornerback, linebacker, and on the defensive line.
While bolstering the defense is going to be key, Minnesota also can’t ignore their offense. They could look for some depth on the offensive line, a potential new No. 2 wide receiver, and the Purple will also be in the hunt for a backup quarterback.
Kirk Cousins isn’t getting any younger, so it makes sense that the Vikings could look for a younger quarterback who still has some upside. Here are seven quarterbacks that fit that description that Minnesota could pursue in free agency.
Mike White
2022 Team: New York Jets
Mike White took the NFL by storm last season, well, at least for a couple of weeks anyway. White didn’t see the field until Week 11 against the Bears, but completed over 78 percent of his passes in that game and tossed three touchdowns. The following week against our beloved Vikings, he threw for 369 yards, and then the next week at Buffalo, White nearly tossed for another 300.
He finished 2023 with 1192 yards passing in four games with three touchdowns and four interceptions and a quarterback rating of 75.7. White showed toughness in those starts trying to play through a brutal rib injury which ultimately ended up putting him on the shelf.
White possesses good size, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 218 pounds. He throws a pretty accurate ball and is still only 27-years-old. While White isn’t going to get a bunch of offers to be a team’s starting quarterback in 2023, he did show some flashes that have to have teams intrigued with his potential.
Drew Lock
2022 Team: Seattle Seahawks
Drew Lock is a former second-round pick of the Denver Broncos who was shipped to Seattle in that disgusting trade for Russell Wilson. He actually played fairly well when he was helming the Broncos’ offense, throwing for 4,740 yards with 25 touchdowns to 20 interceptions.
Lock isn’t Michael Vick, but he can take off and pick up yards on the ground. He has totaled 285 in his career with five touchdowns. His size is ideal, standing 6-foot-4 and 228 pounds, so he definitely doesn’t have any issues seeing the open receivers.
There may be some maturity concerns with Lock, as he is probably best known for singing rap songs that play over the speakers during games while sitting on the bench. It also is a bit concerning that he couldn’t beat out Geno Smith for the starting job in Seattle, though Geno did play out of his freaking mind in 2022.
Lock is an intriguing option if the Vikings do go out and sign him as their new backup. At age 26, there is still plenty of time for Kevin O’Connell to develop him, and maybe he can have a resurgent career just like his former teammate Geno Smith.
Tyler Huntley
2022 Team: Baltimore Ravens
Could the Vikings actually get a Pro Bowler to be the backup to Kirk Cousins? While Tyler Huntley was a Pro Bowler, it was basically because there was no one else left to choose from. He was serviceable as the Ravens’ starter, but nowhere near what is normally considered a Pro Bowl-caliber talent.
He threw for only 658 yards in four starts, with two touchdowns to three interceptions. His quarterback rating was 77.2, and he was able to pick up some yards on the ground, scampering for 137 with one score.
What makes Huntley intriguing, despite the far from Pro Bowl-caliber numbers, is his mobility and elusiveness. He can come in off the bench during a game and give the defense something completely different to try and stop. He is always a threat to run and is able to avoid pressure in the pocket, allowing his receivers time to get open. When a defense is playing a quarterback like Kirk Cousins all game long who likes to throw from the pocket and then have to try and stop Huntley, is no easy task.
While Huntley can provide a spark off the bench, that is probably what his ceiling is in the league. What can give a team hope that he can develop into a better passer is the fact he’s just 25 years old. It’ll be interesting to see if Huntley ends up leaving Baltimore and if there is a team out there who views him as more than just a backup option.
Gardner Minshew
2022 Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Gardner Minshew is on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to backup quarterbacks in the NFL. He doesn’t have elite physical traits, but the guy loves football and will give it his all every time he steps foot on the field.
Minshew plays balls out, and there isn’t a throw he’s afraid to attempt. He’s got plenty of experience starting 24 career games. In those games, he’s thrown for over 6,600 yards with 44 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. That is a quarterback rating of 93.1.
Minshew also comes across as a guy who is extremely fun to be around. He’s got swagger to him and even had “Minshew Mania” ensuing during his brief run as the starter in Jacksonville, where fans wore mustaches and rocked mullets in his honor.
He’s an ideal guy to get as a backup to Kirk Cousins and then be a bridge option for a season or two. He is more than capable of running an effective offense, allowing the Vikings to compete as they also prepare for the future when they eventually draft and begin developing a young quarterback.
John Wolford
2022 Team: Los Angeles Rams
This one is strictly for the Kevin O’Connell connection. John Wolford played in Los Angeles while O’Connell was the offensive coordinator, and he surely knows every strength and weakness of this guy.
Wolford is 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, with a decent arm. Those physical traits aren’t very impressive, and his numbers when he’s gotten on the field aren’t either. Wolford has thrown for 626 career yards with just one career touchdown to five interceptions. He is pretty much bland across the board with little upside.
So why is he on this list? It’s because he could end up being the fallback plan. He’s a realistic option for the Vikings if they aren’t able to secure a quality backup in free agency or find one in the draft. Wolford likely will be on the market for a while, and if the Vikings find themselves in that situation where they don’t have a backup, he may be a guy they sign just because he’s familiar with Kevin O’Connell and his offensive scheme and philosophies.
Cooper Rush
2022 Team: Dallas Cowboys
Cooper Rush is kind of an interesting option when it comes to free-agent quarterbacks. While he’s got decent size, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 225 pounds, he doesn’t possess a rocket arm or is someone who is going to worry anyone when he takes off and runs.
Rush is intriguing because he just seems to win football games. He’s 5-1 as a starter in his career. That record shows that while not physically intimidating, Rush is a smart player who understands the nuances of the offense he is running, and the defenses he’s attacking.
Rush does a great job with his reads and often takes what the defense gives him. He throws a very catchable football and doesn’t panic when under pressure like a lot of backups do. Rush has some ice in his veins, and just kind of executes the offense as it is designed with minimal mistakes.
That kind of play has led him to that winning record and will likely earn him some money this offseason. The Vikings could sign him as a high-end backup to Cousins. Rush could also be a guy who potentially starts for a year for the Purple if they move on from Cousins and draft a young signal caller who needs time to develop.
Nick Mullens
2022 Team: Minnesota Vikings
Of all the quarterback options listed, the most likely route the Vikings will take is to just resign Nick Mullens. He has been in the league since 2018 bouncing around a plethora of teams before landing with the Vikings in 2022.
The dude is truly the perfect backup. He is a gritty competitor who can come in during a game and make enough plays to allow his team to get the victory. He’s mobile in the pocket and isn’t afraid to push the ball down the field and try to hit a big gainer. Mullens also plays with a lot of passion and is a guy who his teammates can rally behind.
Mullens has actually been pretty productive in his career, throwing for over 5,000 yards with 27 touchdowns to 23 interceptions. He’s already familiar with Kevin O’Connell’s offense and is still relatively young at 27-years-old. All signs point to Mullens coming back with the Vikings for another stint. The only thing that could derail this is another team offering him a deal that the Vikings cannot match.