A Vikings QB Solution Nobody is Talking About
J.J. McCarthy is coming back and being relied upon to make an honest push for the starting spot. So, too, is Brett Rypien on the roster, but he’s vying for a QB3 job. Otherwise, there’s plenty of speculation about Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones. There’s even chatter online about uniting with veterans like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins.
What about a Vikings QB solution who seems to be flying under the radar?
Since 2022, Nick Mullens has been the main backup in the Twin Cities. He’s a great pro, someone with a brain in his head and who gives his team a chance to win when he steps on the field. He’ll turn 30 in March, so he’s getting to the point in his quarterback journey where he’s neither young nor old. Does it make sense to keep him around for a little while longer as an experienced backup?
Nick Mullens as a Vikings QB Solution
Few, if any, think that Mr. Mullens is the perfect NFL passer. There’s a reason why he went undrafted before being a career backup.
Nevertheless, few could argue that he isn’t a rock-solid backup, someone whom a lot of teams would gladly welcome to fortify their quarterback depth. He doesn’t have the world’s strongest arm, but he’s a great competitor who is undaunted by the challenge of stepping onto an NFL field. Mullens will give his playmakers a chance to make a play and his team a chance to win. Can’t ask for much more from a backup.
During this most recent season, Sam Darnold was healthy almost the entire time. He did, however, need to step off the field for a couple moments to quickly recover from getting hurt.
In those instances, Nick Mullens stepped onto the field and made plays on both occasions. Mullens’ 2024 involved going 2/2 for 38 yards and a pair of 1st downs. Check out one of the completions:
And then the other:
Of course, the detractors will point toward the struggles from Nick Mullens at the end of the 2023 season. Minnesota still had a shot at the postseason but Mullens struggled to protect the football, throwing too many interceptions.
Those critiques and concerns are legitimate, but we also need to factor in the defense’s drop off in those games as a crucial factor in the losses. Basically, if the backup passer is getting the nod, the rest of the team needs to step up to offset the loss of the starting quarterback going to the bench to heal from injury. Minnesota’s team failed in that regard.
Minnesota may have abundant confidence in both J.J. McCarthy’s health and ability. If so, the play could involve going cheaper at backup, making Mullens a reasonably attractive option.
Back in 2023, Nick Mullens agreed to a two-year extension to stick around in Minnesota for just $4 million. Does a similar number get the job done to keep him around for a little while longer?
The veteran passer has played in 33 games, starting 20. He has completed 65.8% of his passes in his career for 6,429 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
Former Vikings Starter Expected to Be a Goner
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.