Polarizing AFC East QB mentioned in wacky trade idea for Vikings

With Kirk Cousins now a member of the Atlanta Falcons, the Minnesota Vikings are in need of a new starting quarterback for the 2024 season.

While the Vikings will attempt to make everyone believe the recently signed Sam Darnold is a legitimate candidate to be the team's new longtime starting signal-caller, anyone with a working set of eyes knows Minnesota will likely be searching elsewhere this offseason for a better quarterback to replace Cousins.

Most assume the Vikings are going to attempt to take the route of selecting one of the top passing prospects in this year's NFL Draft so that they can take advantage of a cheap rookie contract for the next few seasons. However, making a trade for a veteran quarterback in the AFC is something that was recently suggested as another possibility for Minnesota this year.

Nick Wright thinks Miami Dolphins should attempt to trade QB Tua Tagovailoa to Minnesota Vikings

Earlier this month, the Vikings and Cousins went their separate ways after a new contract was unable to be worked out between the two parties. Minnesota was willing to re-sign him, but not at the price tag that he eventually got from the Falcons.

With Cousins's departure, the Vikings starting over at the quarterback position with one of the top prospects in this year's draft seems like a logical decision.

But FS1's Nick Wright recently shared the following idea on "First Things First" that involves current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa landing with Minnesota this offseason.

"If I were advising the Dolphins, I would tell them, 'Hey, you know how Minnesota acquired an extra first-round pick, they have the 11th [and the] 23rd because they want a quarterback?'

I would call them and see what they think of Tua Tagovailoa.

[Minnesota] can have stability at the quarterback position, maybe quiet Justin Jefferson's fears, and [Miami doesn't] have to keep tearing down [their roster]."

This is certainly an out-of-the-box idea from Wright, especially since it wouldn't make a ton of sense for the Vikings.

Tagovailoa is eligible for a contract extension this year, and some are wondering if the Dolphins will give it to him or not. Wright clearly doesn't think it's worth it for Miami to pay the young quarterback a bunch of money based on the current state of the team's roster.

At the same time, why would Minnesota move on from Cousins because they didn't want to pay him a bunch of money and then turn right around and not only give up draft assets to acquire Tagovailoa, but also give him a lucrative contract extension?

Perhaps a trade involving the Miami quarterback could be figured out with another team, but it would make absolutely zero sense for the Vikings to trade and pay for Tagovailoa after they just moved on from spending way too much money on Cousins.