The Minshew Trade is a Missed Opportunity for Vikings
K. Joudry
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Gardner Minshew may be the best backup QB in the NFL. The Jake Browning-Kellen Mond experience may be the least inspiring backup QB situation in the NFL. See where I’m going with this?
Earlier today, the news broke that Philadelphia made a move for Jacksonville’s mustached backup. He is now Philadelphia’s mustached backup. It’s a good move for the Eagles. The compensation was a mere sixth-round pick. The pick could go up to a fifth depending on how much he plays, per Pro Football Talk.
Rick Spielman, as I’ve often pointed out, accumulates late-round picks like a squirrel preparing for winter. He hoards and hides those picks, guarding them jealously. Even still, couldn’t we have sacrificed more than a mere conditional sixth rounder to stabilize the game’s most important position? I get that Cousins never gets hurt, but this Covid world leaves us with a lot of uncertainty. The team is obviously concerned about their franchise QB’s (among others) vaccination status; if they weren’t, they wouldn’t have brought in an epidemiologist to speak with the team on Monday.
We’re now left with Browning and Mond, neither of whom deserve the QB2 job. I’m not saying that as an indictment on their long-term abilities to either be NFL backups or even starters. I’m merely acknowledging the obvious: Minnesota is in big, big trouble if either have to start.
Now, Spielman is no stranger to making moves, so perhaps he has his eye on another backup QB solution. It’s disappointing, though, that Minshew isn’t in a purple uniform. He would have given us a Case Keenum-style backup. Someone who players respect and want to follow; someone with starting experience and (albeit limited) success in the NFL.
At this stage, we’re all just hoping that Cousins can find a way to stay on the field.