Minnesota Vikings are undergoing a quarterback-heavy phase after an eventful offseason, hinting at the possibility of a late-summer trade.
The team signed Sam Darnold to a one-year contract, presumably as a transitional figure for the eventual long-term starter and 10th overall pick in the NFL draft, J.J. McCarthy. Additionally, the Vikings invested a fifth-round selection in Jaren Hall in 2023, who made two starts for the team during a challenging season at the quarterback position last year.
Given the circumstances in Minnesota, backup quarterback Nick Mullens could emerge as a valuable trade asset for the franchise as the regular season approaches, unless they are ready to give up on Hall’s development or keep him on the practice squad.
Will Ragatz of Sports Illustrated Fan Nation suggested that the Vikings might trade Mullens to a team in need of a better backup option, potentially acquiring a late-round draft pick in return and entering the season with a quarterback room consisting of Darnold, McCarthy, and Hall.
Similar moves occur every offseason as teams reassess their depth charts during training camp and address concerns about injuries. For example, the Arizona Cardinals traded a fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Josh Dobbs and a seventh-rounder last summer. Dobbs subsequently started eight games for the Cardinals before being traded to the Vikings.
Minnesota acquired Mullens from the Las Vegas Raiders in the summer of 2022 for a conditional seventh-round pick. Now, with Mullens entering the final year of his $4 million deal, the Vikings could recoup some draft capital by trading him.
Mullens stepped in as the starter last season after Kirk Cousins and Josh Dobbs were sidelined due to injury. Despite going winless in his three starts, Mullens amassed over 1,100 passing yards and six touchdown passes. While turnovers and narrow losses characterized his stretch as the starter, Mullens’ statistics make him an attractive trade asset.
The rationale behind trading Mullens lies in the potential to secure a meaningful Day-3 draft pick in return. However, the Vikings’ development plan for McCarthy suggests that they may opt to retain Mullens as insurance. If Darnold were to get injured or benched before McCarthy is ready to start, the Vikings would have to turn to Hall as the starter.
Hall showed promise in his limited starts as a rookie but lacked consistency. With the Vikings in a competitive rebuild phase, retaining Mullens may provide a safer option until McCarthy proves himself ready to take over the reins.
In summary, the Vikings face a decision regarding Mullens’ future, weighing the potential trade value against the need for quarterback depth and development.
