The Minnesota Vikings need a new starting quarterback with news of Kirk Cousins leaving.
As first reported Monday by Mike McCartney, Cousins is signing a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. With Baker Mayfield staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Russell Wilson joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, the free-agent market is already depleted as the Vikings seek a replacement.
Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Minnesota is expected to pursue Sam Darnold. Other teams are also interested in the 26-year-old.
Last year, Darnold signed a $4 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers. The former No. 3 pick spent the entire season backing up Brock Purdy before starting a Week 18 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Darnold entered the NFL with considerable promise out of USC, but he’s yet to translate his skills into tangible results. The 6-foot-3 gunslinger has a 59.7 completion percentage with 63 passing touchdowns and 56 interceptions in 66 career games.
Despite Darnold’s struggles through six seasons, a team in dire need of quarterback help could still see him as a worthy low-risk, high-reward gamble. Following Cousins’ exit, the Vikings may have the league’s most depleted quarterback room.
Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens remain under contract, but neither looked like a true QB1 when replacing an injured Cousins last season. While the Vikings can also draft a new signal-caller, they’re unlikely to have a chance at landing a top-tier prospect with the No. 11 pick.
Minnesota will begin the season without Cousins under center for the first time since 2017. Other free-agent quarterbacks include Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, Ryan Tannehill, and Joe Flacco.