It was no secret going into this offseason that the Vikings had a huge quarterback decision looming. They had kicked the long-term decision on Kirk Cousins’ future down the road a few times with short term extensions. With the latest Minnesota offered up Franchise Tag protection, ensuring that Cousins had the right to test 2024 free agency. That led to the Falcons having the opportunity to swoop in and make Cousins their answer at the position.
The Vikings had reportedly been negotiating with Cousins’ representatives since the end of the season. They just couldn’t come to an agreement that made sense for both sides. That move left the Vikings quickly looking for answers at the position, which led to an agreement with journeyman Sam Darnold early Tuesday morning. The Vikings are almost assuredly not done adding to the quarterback room with the draft coming up. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the Vikings fared in their decision to let Cousins walk and to bring in Darnold as a short-term replacement.
2024 Quarterback Prospect Rankings
The Vikings Letting Kirk Cousins Walk was Difficult but Necessary
There were a lot of varying opinions among the fanbase and the media on the Kirk Cousins dilemma. On one hand, with Cousins the Vikings would at minimum be relevant and in NFC Wild Card contention. On the other hand, their ceiling with Cousins has always been an early playoff exit. That should have made the decision easy right? If Cousins has proven that he can’t be trusted in big playoff matchups, then why stick with him?
Looking at the quarterback landscape this offseason, things were never going to be that simple. With the 11th overall pick in the upcoming draft, the top three available rookies will certainly be out of reach. The only other potential franchise quarterback on the market belongs to a rival in Chicago’s Justin Fields. Trading up in the draft will prove extremely difficult with the top three teams all in dire need of quarterbacks. There is also no chance that the Bears would consider trading Fields to a divisional rival. That essentially left Cousins as the lone quarterback available that wouldn’t likely lead to a huge drop-off in production.
However, sometimes a team needs to take a step back to move forward. Possibly the best indicator that the Vikings made the right decision in moving on from Cousins is that they are now the proverbial team that is a “quarterback away”. The roster is loaded offensively with the best receiver in the world, a top-five tight end, and two elite tackles. They also just reached an agreement with Aaron Jones and have Jordan Addison going into his second year. Whoever gets to step into this offense is going to be given the keys to a Rolls-Royce. If Cousins walked through the door tomorrow, the Vikings would not be Superbowl contenders despite that offensive personnel. Even if it doesn’t work out, Minnesota had to find out if someone else could unlock more from this group.
Grade: B+
Sam Darnold’s Addition at Minimum Improves the Roster
Watching the NFL newsfeed after the Cousins news broke and seeing Sam Darnold mentioned as the top target for Minnesota probably didn’t inspire elation in many Vikings fans. The fact is, after Cousins, the free agent market was sparse at the position. Minnesota was essentially weighing other lackluster options such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Jameis Winston. The Vikings found themselves with only Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall on the roster and had to make an upgrade. Darnold is just that for the Vikings. He is a surefire upgrade over what they currently have.
The mistake would be in assuming that Sam Darnold will be the Vikings primary quarterback in 2024. It’s more likely that Darnold starts no games for the Vikings than half of them. Even at the 11th pick, the Vikings are almost certainly taking a quarterback in the first or second round. The second tier of rookie quarterbacks is at minimum intriguing this year, so even if the aforementioned trade up is indeed unobtainable, Minnesota should still end up with an interesting prospect.
Darnold’s acquisition should be looked at through the lens of a strong backup that can be a serviceable short-term bridge. That may not be the most exciting thing for a fanbase of a team in transition at quarterback to hear. It is, however, a lot more appealing than the thought of running Nick Mullens out there Week 1. If the Vikings inexplicably don’t bring in a rookie to take the reins, then this grade becomes an F. For now, it goes down as a prudent move for Minnesota’s front office.
Grade: B-
Main Photo Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
