Finally, Vikings See Good News Arrive for Finances
It has been a long time since the Vikings had good news arrive financially. The update from Spotrac therefore looks like an oasis within an arid plain.
As an opening preamble, there’s a mention of passers and the context of their roster status: “6 NFL Quarterbacks with guaranteed money are reportedly (or squarely) on the release bubble, & could therefore be signed elsewhere on a minimum contract.” Contained underneath are the cap charges of the various passers who are soon to be shown the door.
Vikings Get Good News with Cheap QBs
Before going any further, consider the quarterbacks offered up as examples:
“Kyler Murray ($1.3M)
Geno Smith ($1.3M)
Kirk Cousins ($1.3M)
Tua Tagovailoa ($1.2M)
Justin Fields ($1.2M)
Anthony Richardson ($1M)”
Each example offers some appeal. Right off the top, eliminate Tagovailoa from the mix. The issue has little do with ability, or lack thereof. Rather, there’s a very concerning health history (troubling, scary concussions) alongside some friction with DC Brian Flores, who coached the QB back in Miami.
Next, bump down Smith and Cousins due to age. Neither is a bad quarterback; neither is going to play for another ten seasons.
The trio who get left behind are Murray, Fields, and Richardson. Of those options, Fields would be my choice, but the Vikings don’t often call to ask for my personnel advice. The thinking is that Mr. Fields has a lot of experience as a starter, has nice size, demonstrates good leadership, is a great athlete, is still young, and would likely improve with a competent architect on offense.
Seemingly in the lead to earn the job is Kyler Murray, who was a Vikings fan as a kid and who was chosen at No. 1 in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Detractors won’t need to look far for reasons to be skeptical. Murray is a 5’10” passer who comes in at 207 pounds, meaning he’s unusually small. Worse yet, he has often been injured and doesn’t look like an ideal scheme fit as someone who is more comfortable out of shotgun instead of lining up under center with greater regularity. Only a single time has Murray gone to the playoffs; the Cardinals lost while its QB1 went 19/34 (55.9%) for 137 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
Optimists won’t need to look far for reasons to get excited. Murray is a crazy quick quarterback who happens to throw lasers. Sure, the team success has been modest in the desert, but that’s within the context of the Cardinals. His career completion percentage comes in at a sizzling 67.1% and he rightly inspires fear in defensive coordinators as someone who can chew up yards in a hurry. The deep passing game would get resurrected by him, to the delight of Justin Jefferson.
For a touch beyond $1 million, the Vikings would be fortunate to employ Kyler Murray. There’s little risk in that deal, only upside. Seeing him thrive means having a passer capable of being great for another decade. Seeing him falter means having lost essentially no money while still solidifying the QB room’s floor.
There’s then Anthony Richardson. Unlike Murray, Richardson isn’t an accurate passer; unlike Murray, Richardson isn’t a tiny passer. He looks like Tim Tebow, a defensive end who lines up under center. Bringing him to town as a developmental QB3 makes a ton of sense, especially since he could generate a compensatory pick in a year or two if he walks in a future free agency.
In the modern NFL, there has been ample fascination with drafting a young passer since the rookie contract years are so cheap. Opting for a veteran who is being paid by a previous employer creates a similar set of circumstances.
The Vikings, in all likelihood, would be keen to add at least one of the passers that get wrangled by the Spotrac update (to the detriment of a top Vikings rumor). Experienced youth would appear to be the preference, but we’ll see.
