The Minnesota Vikings played close games throughout the 2022 season. They went 13-4 in the regular season, going 11-0 in one-score games. Their success in hotly contested games ran out at the worst time as the Vikings lost during Super Wild Card Weekend to the New York Giants, 31-24.
It was a disappointing end to what was overall a successful season for Minnesota. First-year head coach Kevin O’Connell found plenty of success as the offense clicked. The defense left a lot to be desired, as they gave up yardage and points at an alarming rate.
Upgrading areas of the defense in the offseason will help make the Vikings a more well-rounded team, improving their outlook. However, one thing that they need to start planning for is life after Kirk Cousins.
Cousins had a wonderful 2022 season, however, he is under contract only through 2023. The Vikings need to start considering what they are going to do at quarterback beyond the upcoming season as changes could be on the horizon.
Currently, there isn’t another quarterback on the roster for 2023, let alone a developmental prospect that could eventually take over as the starter from Cousins. That is something they could look into this offseason, making them an intriguing landing spot for Trey Lance.
There have been some rumors about the San Francisco 49ers potentially moving on from the No. 3 overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft. He was the starter coming into this season but a broken ankle in Week 2 put him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.
With Brock Purdy playing as well as he is, there is a chance that San Francisco moves on from Lance and looks to get as much value for him as possible. Minnesota could bring him in and have him sit and learn behind Cousins for one season before taking over in 2024 as, hopefully, the team’s long-term answer at the position.
Lance likely wouldn’t be viewed as an upgrade over Cousins in 2023, but beyond, he does have a much higher ceiling. That is why the 49ers were willing to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo despite him leading the team to the NFC Championship game twice in three years.
