4 veteran QBs who could start for the Vikings in 2024 if Kirk Cousins leaves

Possible Vikings Starting QB in 2024 No. 1

Baker Mayfield

2023 Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2023 Stats:

- 17 starts

- 64.3 completion percentage
- 4,044 passing yards (237.9 per game)
- 28 touchdown passes
- 10 interceptions
- 94.6 passer rating

- 163 rushing yards (2.6 per carry)
- 1 rushing touchdown

Based on the success he was able to have with the Bucs in 2023, Baker Mayfield will probably end up being the most expensive quarterback on this list.

Mayfield made less than $7 million in cash this past season, but that number is expected to increase in 2024, as Spotrac.com has the quarterback’s current market value at more than $27 million per year.

Still, even at the amount of money, Mayfield would still be relatively cheap compared to many of the other starting quarterbacks around the NFL.

If Mayfield were to sign a contract this offseason that paid him an average of $28 million per year, that would still only rank 18th in terms of average yearly salary among quarterbacks around the league.

After some rough performances in the 2021 and 2022 seasons as a member of the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Rams, the former No. 1 draft pick was able to get back on track with Tampa Bay in 2023.

A year after they moved on from Tom Brady as their starter, many expected the Bucs to wind up at the bottom of the NFC South in the 2023 season with Mayfield starting under center.

But the veteran quarterback was able to step in and not only lead Tampa Bay to a playoff appearance, but he also helped the franchise capture the NFC South title and pull off an upset over the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the postseason.

Mayfield was solid during the regular season, but he really stepped up his performance in Tampa Bay’s two 2023 playoff games.

In his two postseason starts, he finished with a 106.3 passer rating after throwing six touchdowns and just two interceptions while averaging 343 passing yards per contest.

If the Vikings were to bring him in for the 2024 season, they could still select a young quarterback prospect during one of the first two days of this year’s NFL Draft.

With a solid starter like Mayfield under center though, Minnesota would have the ability to take a chance on a quarterback prospect who might need another year or two of development