Following his arrival earlier this year, most have assumed that Sam Howell will enter the upcoming 2025 NFL season as the No. 2 quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. However, not everyone is completely sold on Howell securing that role with the Vikings this summer.
During a recent episode of SKOR North's "Purple Daily" show, Judd Zulgad talked about how the Vikings need to make sure they have a backup behind J.J. McCarthy who is capable of winning games with all the talent the team has on its roster this year.
"This is a team that is built to win. This is not a team where if McCarthy goes out [with an injury], you just punt [the season]. So keep an eye on the backup QB."
A little later, Zulgad suggested current Cleveland Browns signal-caller Kenny Pickett as someone Minnesota could trade for before the start of the 2025 season if the team isn't happy with Howell as their No. 2 option.
"As a reliable backup. I think a Kenny Pickett trade is in the cards.
...I'm not asking for a Pro Bowl backup, just to be very clear. I'm just asking for a backup who, if McCarthy tweaks a knee or hurts a shoulder or something like that, doesn't sink the ship, and I'm not entirely sure that I trust Sam Howell to captain the ship."
Should the Minnesota Vikings keep Cleveland Browns QB Kenny Pickett on their radar?
Pickett was brought up by Zulgad since he's currently part of a Cleveland quarterback room that also includes Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. When the Browns put together their final 2025 roster later this year, Pickett could potentially be the odd man out.
As a former first-round draft pick who hasn't lived up to expectations since entering the league, Pickett certainly fits the mold of a quarterback Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell might have interest in fixing.
But would he really be that much of a better No. 2 option for Minnesota next season than Howell? Since both entered the NFL in 2022, Howell actually has a higher completion percentage, passing yards per game average, and touchdown percentage.
Pickett has been slightly better at avoiding turnovers and sacks, but his unwillingness to take chances with his throws could also have something to do with this.
Based on what the Vikings have done in the recent past when it's come to their backup quarterback (trading for Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien), a possible deal for Pickett before the start of the 2025 season isn't something that should be ruled out. But it's also not something that should be counted on either.