What's next for Minnesota? Vikings QB options after Kirk Cousins signs with Falcons

For the first time since 2017, Kirk Cousins will not be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. Where does the team go from here?

The 35-year-old veteran agreed to terms on a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday according to several reports. With their franchise quarterback out of the building, the Vikings will have the rest of the offseason to determine who they'll turn to as their starter under center for 2024 (and beyond).

Minnesota's three main options are sticking with in-house options, hitting the free agency market or taking a young quarterback in April's NFL draft. The team may also go for some combination of those three.

Here's where things currently stand for the Vikings after Cousins' looming departure.

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Vikings may pursue a veteran free agent quarterback

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Minnesota may look to sign former Jets, Panthers and 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold in the coming hours and days.

Darnold, the former third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, started just one game for the 49ers: San Francisco's Week 18 loss to the Rams this year. He also played significant time in the team's Week 16 loss to the Ravens on Christmas Day.

In 2023, the 26 year old went 28-46 as a passer (60.9% completion rate) for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Across the five games in which he attempted a pass, Darnold had a passer rating of 85.1, the second-highest of his career behind his six-game 2022 season.

Prior to his time in San Francisco, he went 8-9 in 17 starts for the Panthers across the 2021 and 2022 seasons and 13-25 in 38 starts for the Jets.

Other free agent quarterbacks include Ryan Tannehill, Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, Jameis Winston, Joe Flacco and Josh Dobbs, who started four games for the Vikings last season.

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The Vikings could draft a quarterback in April

The Vikings hold the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, set to run from April 25-27.

Picking ahead of them are four teams with a clear need at the quarterback position: the Bears, Commanders and Patriots with the first three selections, as well as the Giants at No. 6.

Minnesota may stand pat at pick 11 and take the best remaining quarterback available (likely either Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon's Bo Nix).

It may also use some of its draft capital – the Vikings own two fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round picks in addition to their first-, second-, and seventh-rounders – to trade up.

A trade up could guarantee the team one of its top quarterback choices and allow it to avoid another, more aggressive team trading up ahead of their No. 11 pick. For instance, the Broncos, who own the No. 12 pick, are another quarterback-needy team that may look to jump over Minnesota for a quarterback of their choosing.

Minnesota may opt to stick with an in-house option

With Cousins set to depart once free agency officially begins Wednesday, the Vikings will have two quarterbacks on their roster: 28-year-old Nick Mullens and 25-year-old Jaren Hall.

Minnesota drafted the latter in the fifth round last year, and he started two games in 2023. A concussion cut short Hall's first career start, and a halftime benching cut short his second.

Mullens started three games for the Vikings last year and lost all three, finishing the season with seven touchdown passes to eight interceptions.

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