Reported Vikings signing signals the end of one position battle

With one exhibition game left on their 2023 preseason schedule, the Minnesota Vikings have reportedly signed free-agent quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, according to the XFL's official account on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Given that the Vikings have to make their final 2023 roster by August 29th, this reported addition seems more like a move that was made to let them rest Nick Mullens in the team's upcoming preseason finale, and allow him to begin preparing for his second regular season as Minnesota's No. 2 quarterback.

Minnesota likely feels more comfortable with Mullens as their top backup signal-caller this year over rookie Jaren Hall. So they don't want to risk the veteran getting hurt in a meaningless game, which would then force them to go with the inexperienced Hall as their No. 2 quarterback this season.

This decision shouldn't be viewed as a knock on Hall either. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Vikings prefer to roll with a six-year veteran over a rookie as the top backup behind Kirk Cousins this season. Hall has always been viewed as a bit of a project, which is why he was still on the board when Minnesota selected him in the fifth round of this year's NFL Draft.

As for Ta'amu, he's coming off a season in the XFL in which he was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. In 10 games as a member of the D.C. Defenders, the Vikings' new quarterback completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,894 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, in addition to rushing for 298 yards and another three scores.

After going undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2019, Ta'amu has bounced around the NFL, XFL, and USFL during the last few years. So far, his professional football career has included stints with the Defenders (XFL), Houston Texans, St. Louis Battlehawks (XFL), Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL).

With only a few days to learn the playbook and practice before Minnesota's final 2023 preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, Ta'amu's best bet is to do enough to impress the Vikings' coaching staff this week to earn a spot on the team's practice squad this season.

(Update: The Vikings officially announced the signing of Ta'amu on Monday.)