GettyHead coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Minnesota Vikings have reimagined the quarterback position, replacing Kirk Cousins with more mobile options in Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy long term — and that may lead to the departure of Cousins’ era backup Nick Mullens.
Bleacher Report’s scouting department identified several ways the Vikings could create cap space and urged the Vikings to part ways with Mullens — ideally by trade.
“While it wouldn’t save a ton of space, releasing—or, ideally, trading—quarterback Nick Mullens would be an easy decision. Between McCarthy, second-year quarterback Jaren Hall and newcomer Sam Darnold, the Vikings would have solid quarterback depth even without Mullens—though after watching so many QBs go down in 2023, including Kirk Cousins, Minnesota could be inclined to keep all four,” Bleacher Report’ pitch reads. “Releasing or trading Mullens would save $1.9 millionin cap space.
Mullens was 0-3 as a starter last year but clinched a 3-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14 after relieving Josh Dobbs in the fourth quarter. In his three starts, Mullens completed 67.4% of his passes, averaged 305.8 yards passing and threw seven touchdowns and eight interceptions and compiled an 88.6 quarterback rating.
He is a serviceable backup in the league, but with the Vikings potentially shifting the offense to complement a more mobile quarterback, Mullens may not fit as seamlessly as he did when the offense was designed for Cousins.
The Vikings acquired Mullen in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2023. His trade value likely hasn’t changed despite showing he could competently run Kevin O’Connell‘s offense last season.
Bleacher Report Highlights Overlooked Vikings QB Camp Battle: Jaren Hall vs. Nick Mullens
Image courtesy of the Minnesota VikingsVikings backup quarterbacks Jaren Hall (left) and Nick Mullens (right)
While the McCarthy and Darnold camp battle will be under a microscope this summer, Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon spotlighted the overlooked battle between Mullens and Hall.
“If possible, the Vikings would probably like to keep Nick Mullens around for his knowledge,” Kenyon wrote. “The problem is Minnesota signedSam Darnoldin free agency, draftedJ.J. McCarthyand still hasJaren Hall — who realistically might not be safe as a hopeful stash on the practice squad. This is very much a Mullens vs. Hall discussion.”
Selected in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, Hall was thrust onto the Vikings’ quarterback carousel in the aftermath of Cousins’ Achilles injury.
Hall started a Week 17 matchup with the Green Bay Packers and struggled. He was sacked three times and turned the ball over twice while throwing for 67 yards. The Vikings totaled just 82 yards in the first half and trailed 23-3 before Hall was benched for Mullens in the second half of an eventual 33-10 loss.
While Hall is far from a finished product, the Vikings may not be ready to give up on him and could favor the BYU product over Mullens when considering the draft stock invested in each quarterback.
J.J. McCarthy Must Do More Than Beat Sam Darnold to Become Vikings’ Starting QB
GettyVikings quarterbacks Sam Darnold (left) and J.J. McCarthy (right).
While McCarthy’s first start for the Vikings will be highly anticipated, it may take longer than expected.
Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling offered insight into the Vikings’ thought process in developing McCarthy, saying the rookie has a higher bar to clear than just performing better than Darnold in training camp.
“I don’t think that their approach to the job is based on: is he better than Sam Darnold,” Goessling said on KFAN radio on May 14. “I think the threshold they are looking at is: is he ready to take the job and run with it and do all of the things that we want to see done by an elite quarterback in this offense? And if it’s not there yet, or if it’s not there consistently enough yet, let’s wait. I think it’s about much more about that than this year.”
Trevor Squire is a sports journalist covering the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Trevor studied journalism at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, making stops at the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. You can reach him at trevor.squire@heavy.com and follow him on Twitter @trevordsquire. More about Trevor Squire
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The Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal at the onset of 2024 free agency as six-year starter Kirk Cousins headed to the Falcons. Darnold joined a room that already included returning veteran Nick Mullens and second-year pro Jaren Hall.
But even with his efficiency and game-changing abilities, it's not certain McCarthy will even start for Minnesota in 2024. The Vikings signed veteran and former top-five pick Sam Darnold to a one-year deal and he has the inside track of getting the nod for Week 1 against the New York Giants.
Six weeks after bidding farewell to veteran Kirk Cousins, the Vikings moved up one spot in the 2024 NFL draft and selected Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 on Thursday night.
The Minnesota Vikings ultimately landed their new franchise quarterback in J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. However, a detailed report out of New England indicates the Vikings tried to move up mich higher to acquire the quarterback of their choosing.
Among possible players for the Vikings to select in the first round of the NFL draft, from left: North Carolina QB Drake Maye, Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, LSU QB Jayden Daniels and Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy II.
The No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is projected to receive a four-year contract worth $21.8 million with a signing bonus of $12.7 million. The average annual value of that deal is $5.4 million. The Vikings will have the option to pick up a fifth year on that contract if McCarthy lives up to the pre-draft hype.
Kevin O'Connell was named the 10th head coach in Minnesota Vikings history on Feb. 16, 2022, after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams during the 2020-21 seasons.
Photos: RB Aaron Jones. View photos of RB Aaron Jones who agreed to terms with the Vikings. He joins the Vikings in the wake of Minnesota releasing 2019 draft pick Alexander Mattison. Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, Myles Gaskin and 2023 draft pick DeWayne McBride are the team's other running backs.
The Minnesota Vikings became the first team to trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, when they moved up to the No. 10 slot to select former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. To do so, the Vikings traded picks Nos. 11, 129 and 157 to the New York Jets for picks 10 and 203.
The Vikings also engaged in trade with merchants throughout Europe, Asia and the Far East. The Volga and Dnieper Trade Routes were the two main trade routes that connected Northern Europe with Constantinople, Jerusalem, Baghdad, and the Caspian Sea, and the end of the Silk Road.
In return, they sold items like honey, tin, wheat, wool, wood, iron, fur, leather, fish and walrus ivory. Everywhere they went, the Vikings bought and sold enslaved people too. Viking traders carried a set of folding scales which they used to weigh coins to make sure they got a fair deal.
The first round of the draft Thursday night was dominated by quarterbacks with six going in the first round. That's the most in any round of the common draft era (since 1967).
The worst kept secret in the NFL finally came to fruition Thursday as the Chicago Bears selected highly-touted USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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