ESPN Analyst Tosses Out Another QB Name Who Could Be on the Vikings’ Radar in 2024
The major question for the Minnesota Vikings this season revolves around the quarterback position.
Do they re-sign Kirk Cousins? Do they draft their new QB of the future? Do they sign another veteran to take Cousins’ place in the lineup? Well, ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler added another name to the long list of potential suitors for the Vikings in 2024. That player is Baker Mayfield.
ESPN Analyst Tosses Out Another QB Name for Vikings
Fowler released an article on Sunday morning, discussing some potential landing spots for QBs around the league. Here is what he had to say of Mayfield potentially heading to Minnesota:
While Cousins is undoubtedly the top option should he leave Minnesota, Mayfield is clearly the No. 2 free agent passer. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Vikings got involved should Cousins leave.
Mayfield, the former first overall pick in 2018, spent the early portion of his NFL career trying to bring relevance back to the Cleveland Browns. He did a decent job of that, considering the team had gone a grand total of 4-44 in the three seasons before drafting the Oklahoma product.
In total, Mayfield started 59 games in a Browns uniform, leading the team to a 29-30 record over that time and helping them make the playoffs in 2020 for the first time since 2002. Over his four years in Cleveland, Mayfield threw for 14,125 yards, 92 TDs, and 56 interceptions.
However, after a disappointing 2021 campaign, the Browns opted to trade Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers. He started six games for a dreadful Carolina offense before being released and finishing the season with the Los Angeles Rams.
It seemed that Mayfield’s career was taking a downward turn, but hope for the QB was rejuvenated in 2023 as he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and helped them qualify for the playoffs this past season. He threw for 4044 yards, 28 TDs, and 10 interceptions as the Buccaneers finished the year with a 9-8 record and knocked off the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Now, Mayfield is again set to enter free agency and could be a hot ticket item for QB needy teams this offseason. One of those teams certainly could be the Vikings, and that possibility grows exponentially if Cousins does not have a new contract in place by the time March 13th rolls around.
Cousins is coming off an Achilles injury and is headed into his age-36 season, but his consistent production throughout his NFL career could mean a team is willing to outbid the Vikings for his services.
As a result, Mayfield is a name to watch if the Vikings opt to look for a bridge QB and search for their next franchise quarterback via the draft.
Mayfield will turn 29 years old in April.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.