The Vikings Add A Quarterback

After offseason workouts, training camp, and two preseason games, the Minnesota Vikings decided that they might not have what they need at backup quarterback. Without Kirk Cousins and the rest of the starters, the Vikings offense has struggled to find passing consistency in both preseason games. Second-year Kellen Mond followed up a decent performance in the first preseason game with a two-interception performance in the second preseason game. Veteran Sean Mannion has been more plodding than productive. With backup quarterback concerns, the Vikings acquired Nick Mullens from the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday for a conditional 2024 seventh-round draft pick. The addition gives the Vikings an additional option behind Cousins. 

Through training camp and preseason, the Vikings backup quarterback situation gave me a single prevailing thought. I’m real glad that Cousins has been remarkably durable. He’s never hurt. At least, he’s never hurt enough to miss a game. The only thing that’s forced him off the field has been COVID. Imagine that. Just because Cousins has been durable doesn’t mean that the Vikings don’t need a backup quarterback. When COVID forced him to miss the Green Bay Packers game last year, Mannion’s play was terrifying. The loss sealed their playoff fate. A reliable backup quarterback is a serious need. Things happen and the play of Mond and Mannion gave the team little confidence. Mullens will have a couple weeks to show that he can be a reliable backup to Cousins. 

I saw a Vikings pundit mention on social media that the last time the Vikings added a former Southern Mississippi quarterback this late in the process, the team made it to the NFC Championship game. I’ve seen too many seasons end at the NFC Championship game. I’m hoping for a return to the next game. 

The Vikings new “crowded” quarterback room:

Kirk Cousins

Sean Mannion

Kellen Mond

Nick Mullens

In my opinion, the only thing working against Mullens being the Vikings backup this season is his abbreviated time to learn the job. His starting experience greatly exceeds that of Mannion and Mond. Not only does Mullens have starting experience, he has quality starting experience. Most of that experience was with the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan. That’s an offense with similarities to the one that he’s now learning. 

Prior to this move, I felt that Mond was cruising into the backup job. I felt that simply because he was younger than Mannion and has greater potential. The only problem was that Mond hadn’t outplayed Mannion. Perhaps the addition of Mullens pushes Mond. I guess that we’ll see. The opportunity that he had should’ve been motivation enough. If Mullens grabs the backup job, do the Vikings keep a third quarterback on the roster? With the players and needs at other positions (receiver, tight end, linebacker, etc.), I’m not sure that’s possible. Can they get Mond to the practice squad? If he hasn’t “wowed” the Vikings, how could he have “wowed” another team? Then there’s this final question. Is Mond ever going to be the team’s quarterback of the future? My thinking on the Vikings quarterback of the future is that the team’s new decision-makers should pick him. That means Mond isn’t the one. If that’s the case, there’s really no reason to force him onto the roster or practice squad. 

The Vikings sent a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick to the Raiders for Mullens. I’ve seen the condition for the pick being that he as to be active for a game. I’ve also seen mention that he has to play in a game. My guess is that it’s the former. If things go as I expect, the Vikings will be sending the Raiders a seventh-round pick in 2024.