It is the season of speculation in the NFL free agency world. There are still two weeks before teams can even begin speaking with agents, so all rumors of destinations and contracts will remain just that, rumors. At least for the time being. There may be no team more embroiled in the rumor mill than the Vikings, as they simultaneously pursue the hottest quarterback on the market and lose exclusivity to three quarterbacks from their 2017 roster. No other Super Bowl hopeful has more uncertainty at the most important position.
With that in mind, let us take a look at some of the latest revelations from around the league that pertain to the Vikings’ quarterback situation.
Bridgewater contract not expected to toll
The Vikings and Teddy Bridgewater were in an odd boat a few weeks ago. There were reports that due to Bridgewater’s time on the PUP list, his contract may be eligible for tolling. That would mean he would remain under contract with the Vikings for one more season. But as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting, the contract is not expected to toll and Bridgewater will indeed enter unrestricted free agency March 14. The NFL has not come down with an official ruling, but the Vikings are also not pursuing the situation further.
Which brings up some interpretations of the Vikings’ actions. On the one hand, general manager Rick Spielman has stated that this issue is out of his hands. Only the league and player union can make a ruling. But Rapoport also explicitly stated that Minnesota does not plan on making the assertion that Bridgewater’s contract should toll. What that could mean is that the Vikings have little desire to have bring Bridgewater back. It could also just mean they want their young quarterback to have the opportunity to make better money than his current rookie deal. Or what Spielman said could be true and they have no power whatsoever in this circumstance.
Regardless, the Minnesota’s reported strong pursuit of Kirk Cousins makes it clear they are not content moving forward with any of the three quarterbacks from their 2017 roster. And there are more and more signs that the team could be the front-runner in those sweepstakes. Such as…
Jaguars extend Bortles
Jacksonville was expected to be a major player for Cousins largely because they are, in a way, the AFC version of the Vikings: A defensive juggernaut with major quarterback questions. However, the Jaguars instead decided to extend Blake Bortles for $26.5 million guaranteed, taking them out of the running. At this point, it seems the list of teams favored to land Cousins is now the Vikings, Cardinals, Jets and Broncos.
-
Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jets
by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am
Minnesota will not franchise Keenum
Despite a breakout 2017 year, it has been clear from the start that the Vikings were not as high on Case Keenum as the team’s success would suggest. If unconfirmed rumors are to be believed, the Vikings only see Keenum as a backup, not as a long-term solution. As such, it appears the Vikings are content letting Keenum test the market and will not slap him with the franchise tag. It makes sense; the franchise tag would mean $19.9 million for Keenum. Despite his run to the NFC Championship Game, he is still a career journeyman who just had his first taste of sustained playing time. Committing so much money to him when Pat Shurmur is no longer in the building would be a massive gamble.
What this all means
Clearly, the Vikings are setting themselves up to go all-in on Cousins. Many around the league have labeled Minnesota as the front-runner and some reports have Cousins expressing a desire to join Minnesota. That would, of course, be with all money being close to equal. Minnesota could offer around $27 million a year. But some believe the Jets are in the top position to throw money at him until he signs.
The Vikings are best set up for immediate on-field success of the potential Cousins destinations. But they also have a lot of star players who made their mark after signing their current deal. Those players are going to get paid in the not-so-distant future.
At the moment, the contingency plan appears to be Bridgewater for one year with a veteran, maybe Keenum or Josh McCown, as his backup. That, of course, would depend on none of those guys finding bigger deals elsewhere. But at the moment, the rumors are that the markets for Bridgewater and Keenum are not as vast as one would think. It would also be fair to assume that Sam Bradford is out of the Vikings’ market, due to his injury concerns and steeper price tag.
Again, it is all rumors. And today is the start of the draft combine, so all sorts of new speculation will emerge in the next 24 hours. Stay tuned.
–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Vikings and Full Press Coverage NFC North. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @fpc_vikingsFollow @fpc_nfcn
- PODCAST: Eye Test For Two – Ep 149: Remembering Bud Grant With Former Vikings RB Chuck Foreman
- NFL 2022: Football Food For Thought (Wild Card Weekend)
- Giants at Vikings: Playoff Preview and Prediction
- NFL 2022: Five Key Statistics for Wild Card Weekend
- Listing The Best Possible Super Bowl LVII Matchups
-
Ep 149: Remembering Bud Grant With Former Vikings RB Chuck Foremanby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 10:41 pm
Former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman joins Clark and Ira to discuss […]
-
Ep 148: Hall of Fame Voter John McClain Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on March 15, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Hall of Fame voter John McClain of Gallery Sports returns to the show to […]
-
Inside Bryce Young's Pro Day & his meetings with the Carolina Panthersby LandryFootball.com on March 24, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Chris takes you inside Bryce Young's Pro Day at Ohio State as well as his […]
-
Inside CJ Stroud's Pro Day & his meeting with the Panthersby LandryFootball.com on March 24, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Chris takes you inside CJ Stroud's Pro Day at Ohio State as well as his […]
-
Ep 278: The Trade Marchby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 8:02 pm
-
Ep 277: Free Agency March Madnessby Full Press Coverage on March 17, 2023 at 2:39 am
-
Ep 276: Franchise Tag 2023by Full Press Coverage on March 8, 2023 at 8:28 pm
-
Ep 275: Dynasty Dispersal Draftby Full Press Coverage on March 4, 2023 at 2:06 pm
-
Episode 3.5: "Free Agent Frenzy" w/ Pete Hailey from NBC Sports Washington and "Big Doug" McCrayby Full Press Coverage on March 15, 2023 at 8:40 pm
George Carmi hosts NBC Sports Washington's Pete Hailey and Doug McCray on […]
-
Season 3.4: "Winds of Change" with Rick Snider of 106.7 The Fan and "Big Doug" McCrayby Full Press Coverage on March 2, 2023 at 10:33 pm
George Carmi hosts Rick Snider from 106.7 The Fan to discuss the latest […]
-
Full Press Islanders - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 5:05 pm
The Isles got help yesterday in a massive way with the Pens and Panthers […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Recap the loss to Nashville and look at the playoff picture. Learn more […]
-
3/24 - Bruins Approaching Record; OBJ To the New York Jets?by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:07 am
Ian and John discuss the Boston Bruins dominance and discuss whether or […]
-
3/22 - World Baseball Classic Was A Classic; Connor McDavid on Hockey Tournamentby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 10:29 pm
Ian and John discuss the success of the World Baseball Classic and debate […]
-
3/21 - Aaron Rodgers Latest, World Baseball Classic Talkby Full Press Coverage on March 21, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Ian and John talk more Aaron Rodgers and the excitement around the World […]
-
3/20 - Aaron Rodgers, Brandin Cooks, Boston Bruinsby Full Press Coverage on March 20, 2023 at 2:25 pm
Ian and John discuss the latest with Aaron Rodgers, the Brandin Cooks […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jetsby Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am
-
3/24 - Bruins Approaching Record; OBJ To the New York Jets?by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:07 am
-
Full Press MMA - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Thunder at Lakersby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Ep. 230 - NBA Playoff Race Could Come Down To Injuriesby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 9:42 pm
-
Suns at Kingsby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 9:00 pm
-
Bulls at Blazersby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 8:15 pm
-
Sixers at Warriorsby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 7:30 pm
-
Bucks at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on March 24, 2023 at 6:45 pm
-
Ep. 161: Emporia State University Head Football Coach Garin Higginsby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 6:43 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Revolution Reviewby Boot 2 The Face on March 10, 2023 at 12:42 am
AEW Revolution Review, Power Rankings, B2TF of the Week, and […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 215by Boot 2 The Face on March 2, 2023 at 12:50 am
We are back talking Kenny Omega's importance to AEW. Also, we break down […]