One of the most important subject areas of dialogue around Minnesota Vikings circles surrounded the future of their quarterback Kirk Cousins. Would the Vikings trade him or would they increase him? Finally, the Vikings chose to give him a 1-12 months extension, guaranteeing he remains in a purple uniform by means of 2023.
On the lookout all around the NFL entire world in 2022, and it’s hunting like Minnesota created the right choice, and they may well do it all over again. Here’s why the 2022 NFL season carries on to demonstrate why the Vikings shouldn’t hurry to find their upcoming quarterback.
Investing in the Draft
This is not intended to say that guys like Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert weren’t really worth higher draft picks in 2020. Nor is it a bad point to take possibilities on QBs if you have already received a select substantial ample to do so.
That reported, the Vikings possible are not likely to have a high draft choose at any time soon. And, if you glimpse at some of the trades to receive substantial draft picks for QBs, there is not just a fantastic keep track of record. Due to the fact 2016, listed here are the QBs that teams drafted up in the to start with spherical to select:
- Paxton Lynch (2016 Broncos)
- Carson Wentz (2016 Eagles)
- Jared Goff (2016 Rams)
- Deshaun Watson (2017 Texans)
- Patrick Mahomes (2017 Chiefs)
- Mitchell Trubisky (2017 Bears)
- Lamar Jackson (2018 Ravens)
- Josh Rosen (2018 Cardinals)
- Josh Allen (2018 Charges)
- Sam Darnold (2018 Jets)
- Jordan Enjoy (2020 Packers)
- Trey Lance (2021 49ers)
- Justin Fields (2021 Bears)
Seven of the 13 players are no lengthier with their authentic team, and three of the gamers that are with the crew that picked them were drafted in just the previous three decades. Of class, the 2017 Chiefs and 2018 Costs are earning these trades 100 times out of 100.
That said, there are just as a lot of illustrations of these QBs busting out of the NFL as there are players that panned out. Offered this, and some later on spherical picks that have panned out (see Davis Mills), it can make sense why the Vikings would not go all-in on a prospect, specially this yr.
2023 NFL Draft
Definitely, the 2023 NFL Draft course is not void of QB talent like the 2022 Draft (though Bailey Zappe might have been the steal of the draft). There are gifted prospective customers from CJ Stroud and Bryce Young down to Jalon Hall and Will Levis. That mentioned, there continue to isn’t that “surefire” prospect, at least in my eyes, at the position that we’ve observed in many years previous like Joe Burrow in 2020 or Trevor Lawrence in 2021.
In the course of my early period mock draft, I gave the Vikings Anthony Richardson out of Florida simply because of his skillset as a twin-risk passer. Nonetheless, as the college or university football time has worn on, it’s setting up to look much more probably that he returns to Florida for his senior year alternatively than get picked in the first spherical of the 2023 Draft.
With that in thoughts, it would seem foolish for the Vikings to thrust for a QB with their initial-spherical decide on unless of course there is a player that Kevin O’Connell is completely sure that he can mould into his system. If the up coming Davis Mills or Bailey Zappe is out there (hold an eye on Cameron Ward out of Washington Condition), why rush into picking out a QB with an early draft decide this calendar year?
A different Offseason Cousins Extension?
And that gets me to the best level of this intensive argument. As prolonged as the Vikings maintain winning online games, and Kirk Cousins does not slide on his flat on his face more than the up coming 11 online games, it would make feeling to increase him again, correct?
Cousins has a no-trade clause on his deal this offseason, which means he is going to be in a Vikings uniform for the duration of 2023 no make any difference what: he and his $36.25 million cap strike. Cousins has also stated that he prefers to retire a Minnesota Viking, no issue how significantly that may well make some admirers cringe.
The Vikings are projected to have just $4.7 million future offseason to shell out, per About the Cap. Reminder: the Vikings have to pay out Justin Jefferson this upcoming winter in a large receiver sector that is only rising far more rewarding by the year.
Yet another Cousins extension eases the salary cap constraints and gets the 34-12 months-outdated QB closer to that intention of retiring as a Viking. If the Kevin O’Connell/Kirk Cousins tandem earns a playoff run for Minnesota in 12 months just one, that need to be enough to warrant an excess yr or two of Cousins at QB even though the Vikings search for a potential QB.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Inventive Writing as effectively as minors in Heritage, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not crafting about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon education, playing video game titles, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For far more of his opinions, check out out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Rooster.
