In just a few weeks, the Minnesota Vikings will finally learn their 2024 schedule. But when it comes to who they are playing, they have a tall task ahead of them this season.
The Vikings saw several top quarterbacks last year, including Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow, but they’ll stand to see more in 2024. With familiar faces such as Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers, up-and-comers such as C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence, and two visits from No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, Brian Flores and his defense will be tested again this season.
So, which quarterbacks are at the top of the list? Let's look at the five best quarterbacks Minnesota will see next season.
Best QBs on the Minnesota Vikings schedule in 2024
5. C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans)
If we wanted to go with a young quarterback next season, there are several options. Williams is a candidate to be on the list, but we won’t know about him until he hits the field. Trevor Lawrence is a former No. 1 overall pick but dropped off in his third season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Anthony Richardson and Will Levis are also young signal-callers who could take a step forward in their second season, but the best top young quarterback the Vikings will see in 2024 will be C.J. Stroud.
Stroud had a tremendous rookie year with the Texans, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions, but he might be even better this year thanks to his supporting cast. Nico Collins and Tank Dell are still in Houston, and the Texans added Stefon Diggs via trade earlier this offseason to give Stroud another top target.
4. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons)
We won’t know what to expect when Kirk Cousins returns from an Achilles injury. But if he looks anything like he did last October, it should be a steep challenge for the Vikings when he returns to U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings fans know all about Cousins after he threw for 30 or more touchdowns in three seasons and over 4,000 yards in four seasons since arriving in Minnesota in 2018. While he leaves Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson behind, he inherits another strong supporting cast in Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and running back Bijan Robinson.
Cousins is the ultimate creature of comfort, and it could take him a moment to get going in Atlanta. However, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree that Kevin O’Connell did and will continue to make Cousins a formidable foe next season.
3. Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)
Brock Purdy is one of the most polarizing quarterbacks in the NFL but he has the weapons for it not to matter. While Kyle Shanahan is pulling the strings from the sideline, Purdy is the one making the decisions and more often than not, it’s his decisions that leads to big plays.
According to Pro Football Focus, Purdy’s average depth of target of 8.6 yards ranked 12th among qualifying quarterbacks last season, and his big-time throw rate (defined as a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window) of 5.5 percent was tied for 10th and ranked ahead of Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes.
Purdy’s weapons, including Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle, certainly make life easier, but Purdy is his own threat and will look to avenge a loss to the Vikings from last October.
2. Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
Vikings fans were counting down the days until Jordan Love took over for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, but his development wound up being a nightmare scenario.
Love stumbled out of the gate last season but got stronger at the same time Cousins suffered an injury on the Lambeau Field turf. Over his final 10 games, Love averaged 266 yards per game while throwing 21 touchdowns to three interceptions and threw three touchdowns in the Packers’ playoff win over Dallas.
Love can be prone to turnovers, as his 2.5 percent turnover-worthy play rate ranked 15th among qualifiers last season. However, Matt LeFleur has done a good job at helping him minimize those mistakes and become one of the fastest-rising signal callers in the NFL.
1. Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets)
In the end, there is only one final boss. The Vikings battled Aaron Rodgers for years, and although he missed last year with a torn Achilles, there are several reasons he could rebound.
Rodgers seemed like he was on track to build a rapport with Garrett Wilson before the injury, and Breece Hall is now two years removed from a torn ACL suffered in his rookie season. The Jets added Olu Fashanu in the first round of the NFL Draft, and the Jets' defense should be in good hands under Robert Saleh.
It’s unknown how much time Aaron Rodgers has left, but he’s enough of a threat to keep defensive coordinators up at night. Rodgers's reputation and talent keep him at the top of the list and should lead to one of the Vikings’ toughest games in 2024.