There has been a good amount of attention given to the quarterback spot of the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. While Kirk Cousins is locked in as the starter for the 2023 campaign, this is the final season of his contract and his future is up in the air.
Teams around the league are certainly hoping that the Vikings don’t retain Cousins, as multiple franchises have been linked to him as a potential suitor. There is a good chance that the starting quarterback in Minnesota in 2024 isn’t currently on the roster.
Should Cousins depart, Jaren Hall, a fifth-round pick out of BYU, could be the successor. The Vikings have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Kyler Murray should the new regime with the Arizona Cardinals look to make a move as well.
Another potential option has been floated about by Kay Adams on a recent episode of her show, Up and Adams, on FanDuel TV. Adams suggested that the Vikings take a look at acquiring Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers.
“How about the Vikings? This is the team that I saw pop up and I said, ‘Oh my god, I like that.’ First of all, cute connection family vibe there, that’s his hometown team. You want to send him there, there’s no rush for him to like get out there and do anything.
Lance has been the subject of plenty of trade rumors this offseason. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has been surpassed on the depth chart by Brock Purdy and potentially even Sam Darnold. If he becomes the third-string quarterback, a change of scenery would do well for him.
As she mentions, he would be afforded the chance to sit behind Cousins and learn from him. Having a veteran to lean on could certainly do him some good as the starter in San Francisco, Purdy, is only entering his second season in the league himself.
“He can sit, he can develop for a year behind a quarterback who will help teach him. He’s not afraid to, you know, he’s a very made man. Kirk Cousins, who’s still starting there, and has been consistent for the past almost decade for this team.
“Cousins hits free agency next year, so this would be a nice sort of fit if he does sit and learn from him and all that osmosis sort of creeps in. Then maybe before Kirk moves on somewhere else, you can get him to start, and it gives yourself your QB and cap relief. So, a trade to the Vikings, not the craziest idea.”
Entering Year 3 of his career, the Vikings would have Lance under contract for at least two more seasons beyond this one, should they exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. The potential to become a solid starter is there for the North Dakota product, but he is lacking in reps.
There are players in the NFL who attempted more passes during the 2022 season in games than Lance has since high school. Reps and experience are what he is lacking most and if the Vikings believe they can help him speed up the learning curve, he would make for an excellent trade target.
