Puzzling take shared about Vikings possibly adding former No. 1 pick in 2024

If Baker Mayfield doesn't re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings are believed to be a potential suitor for the quarterback.

Despite the fact that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has been dominating the headlines for the last few weeks, there are actually other notable free-agent passers who will be available in free agency this year.

Former No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield is among the group of free-agent quarterbacks this offseason after spending the 2023 campaign revitalizing his career as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Many expect Mayfield to re-sign with the Bucs this year, but if he doesn't, the Vikings were recently suggested as a team that could potentially sign him.

Minnesota Vikings viewed as the only other team in the mix for Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield

For some strange reason, ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio believes that if Cousins leaves Minnesota and Mayfield doesn't return to Tampa Bay this offseason, then the Vikings could be one of the only teams in the NFL that would make sense as a landing spot for the former No. 1 draft pick.

Florio had the following to say on the possibility.

"There’s really only one other team that could even be in the mix. And that team would need Mayfield only if its current starter leaves for the Falcons.

Other teams with a need at quarterback want to go younger. In comparison to Cousins, Mayfield is more than six years younger.

So it’s most likely Tampa Bay. With a chance that Minnesota gets involved. If Minnesota ends up looking for a new quarterback."

Why is Minnesota one of the only teams that would be in the mix for Mayfield if he doesn't re-sign with the Bucs this year? He has connections to members of the New England Patriots, and a number of other teams in need of a quarterback can afford to sign him.

Based on projections made by Spotrac.com, Mayfield's current market value has him landing a contract this year that pays him around $27 million per season.

So, even though the Vikings would have a need for a new starting quarterback if they move on from Cousins this offseason, it wouldn't make a ton of sense for them to sign Mayfield to a deal that pays him close to $30 million per year.

Signing Mayfield still shouldn't be completely ruled out for Minnesota, but adding him this year would put the team in an almost identical situation to where the franchise has been during the last handful of seasons with Cousins as their quarterback.

Mayfield isn't a terrible quarterback, but like Cousins, he's not one who can put an entire team on his back like a Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Lamar Jackson.

The Vikings have been stuck in a neverending circle of mediocrity during the last six years with Cousins as their starting signal-caller. Signing Mayfield isn't something that is going to help Minnesota get out of this circle.