Vikings Can Now Re-Sign an Old Friend if They Still Want to

Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) counts down the snap during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports

In 2023, Minnesota’s draft class was headlined by star receiver Jordan Addison, who has been every bit as good as promised and has become a wonderful complement for Justin Jefferson. Mekhi Blackmon showed some flashes in a rookie year, but an injury robbed him of year two. Another rookie from that class was quarterback Jaren Hall.

Vikings Can Now Re-Sign an Old Friend if They Want to

Hall is now back on the market. The Seattle Seahawks don’t require his services anymore.

NFL: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Dec 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterback Jaren Hall (16) look on before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday, “Seahawks waived quarterback Jaren Hall, linebacker Michael Dowell, center Michael Novitsky and outside linebacker Kenneth Odumegwu.”

Hall headed to Seattle after last preseason after the Vikings had surprisingly said goodbye to him to make room for Brett Rypien.

He was a 2023 fifth-round pick, viewed as a potential long-term backup and a long shot, but not totally without a chance to clinch a starting role at some point down the road. In his rookie year, he was supposed to be a redshirt player behind Kirk Cousins and backup Nick Mullens. Growing behind the scenes was on his agenda.

Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) throws against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports

When Cousins suffered his season-ending Achilles injury, Mullens was on IR with a back issue, so it was Hall who got the nod in the game against the Falcons. One bad and one good drive later, he tried to rush for a touchdown and got lit up, suffering a concussion on the play.

Josh Dobbs entered the game, and the whole Dobbs-mania started. Later that year, when Dobbs flamed out and Mullens was benched for throwing too many interceptions, it was once again Hall who was supposed to beat a Green Bay team on primetime. That game was a disaster, and he lasted one half this time until Mullens was re-inserted.

Last training camp, Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy, and Mullens got most of the reps. In his few preseason opportunities, he didn’t look much better than in 2023, so the Vikings ended the experiment, and he signed with Seattle’s practice squad.

NFL: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Dec 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) during their football game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports

This offseason hasn’t gone according to plan either. First, the Seahawks swapped Geno Smith for Darnold, then Drew Lock was signed, and finally, Jalen Milroe was acquired in the draft, once again dropping Hall to QB4, despite Sam Howell being offloaded to Minnesota.

In the few days after cutting Hall, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell both stated their intention to re-sign Hall to the practice squad. He ultimately dipped. If they still want him, now is their chance.

However, Minnesota’s QB room is likely full, too. McCarthy is the QB1, Howell was acquired to be his backup, Rypien remains QB3, and Max Brosmer was signed as an UDFA, and he wasn’t cheap.

Hall just turned 27. His Vikings statistics: He completed 13 of 20 passes for 168 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception, and he added another 14 yards on the ground.

He will now try to get the opportunity to audition for a new team.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFFOver The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.