Kirk Cousins is likely done for the season and possibly done as a Viking. He has been our reliable starter for over 5 years and was playing like an MVP candidate this year. To me and many other fans, Kirk was a great player and a great person. He forever has my gratitude and respect.

I don’t want it to sound like I’m sweeping his tragic injury under the rug, but the Vikings have like 2 days to figure out what to do at quarterback, so I thought I’d compile this list of every possible option.

A few disclaimers: first, I am only considering immediate options. The Vikes could do any number of things after the season is over but they need a QB right now as well. Second, just because a player is on this list does not necessarily mean I think they will be a good option or realistic option. I’m just trying to consider every QB who might intrigue a Vikings fan right now.

With that out of the way, on to the list →

Jaren Hall

The Vikings backup QB, Hall was drafted this year in the 5th round out of BYU. I think Hall is by far the most likely QB to start next week, simply because the other options don’t look good. Only playing time will tell if Hall is a capable quarterback. Hall brings very little (basically no) pro experience, but he was solid in college and is fairly mobile. There’s a good chance Hall needs to impress the coaches to avoid being replaced by a returning Nick Mullens, but in the meantime we should get a good look at what Hall is capable of at this point in his career.

Nick Mullens

Mullens is currently on IR and not eligible to return until Week 10, so the Vikings would have to find an alternative for next week, but after that Mullens is the likely starter besides Hall. Mullens is a veteran and is more familiar with the Vikings offense than other veterans who the Vikings might scramble to find. He was good in San Francisco (2nd most passing yards in his first 16 starts behind Patrick Mahomes lmao) but there’s a reason he never became a long-term starter anywhere else. Still, he’s experienced and he’s already on the roster which makes him one of the forerunners.

Sean Mannion

Mannion has played several games for the Vikings, but his performances have been largely uninspiring. Now on the Vikings’ practice squad, Mannion is familiar with the Vikings and will likely help out Hall with his knowledge and experience, but I don’t think he’s a serious option at QB1. He is the most likely backup option until Mullens returns.

Matt Ryan

Now we get to the slightly more unlikely options (in no particular order). Ryan is currently a free agent and brings a ton of NFL experience, but he’s also 38. Ultimately, I think there’s a reason no team signed Ryan this season.

Carson Wentz

The 30-year-old free agent Carson Wentz is available, and grew up nearby in North Dakota. Wentz has the benefit of NFL experience while not being too old, but he has struggled in the latter part of his career.

Colt McCoy

A 37-year-old free agent who is probably one of the better free agent options. Apparently one actual source suggested the Vikings were seriously considering McCoy, so he’s definitely a name to keep an eye on. McCoy has not shown much as a starter but he hasn’t been terrible either, and might be the best of many bad options.

Ryan Tannehill

The veteran in Tennessee could be traded for if the Titans believe they’ve found their guy in Levis. Would the Titans be willing to part with him in the next 48 hours? I don’t think so, and I don’t think the Vikings are willing to give up what would be needed to trade for him anyway. Tannehill is 35 and still a solid QB so this is not an overly ridiculous trade, but I don’t consider it probable. Just one of the more probably ones on this list.

Nick Foles

Foles is 34 and currently a free agent. This signing could make sense as we’ve seen what Foles is capable of with a talented roster around him, which he would have to some extent in Minnesota. I could see this happening but if FO wants a veteran I think Mullens is the much more likely option.

Joe Flacco

Flacco is a free agent with plenty of experience, but he’s also 38 and doesn’t seem like he has much left. Like Matt Ryan, I think there’s a reason no team has signed Flacco.

Tom Brady

Supposedly Brady was expected to come out of retirement and join the Raiders this offseason before something personal stopped him (according to Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter). I don’t know how much I buy that story but if it’s true then it wouldn’t be ridiculous to wonder if Brady could now be eyeing the Vikings. Our O-line has become one of the best in the league apparently, which would bode well for the 46-year-old (wow he’s old) free agent. Then again, this would be a very “win now” signing for a young team likely trying to “competitively rebuild”.

Matthew Stafford

I’ve seen this name floated around but I think it’s one of the least likely names on this list. The Rams are probably thinking about a QB of the future and not totally closed to the idea of trading Stafford but the Vikings can’t afford his contract, so I don’t think this has any chance of happening.

Case Keenum

Keenum SZN Part 2??? Keenum is currently a third-stringer on the Texans. It probably wouldn’t take much to trade for Keenum and he has a history with the Vikings. On the other hand, he never played well after his one-year wonder and his 2017 run is remembered by Harrison Smith and pretty much no other current Vikings. One thing Keenum does have going for him is that when Jefferson returns, he could likely run a “fuck it, chuck it” offense very similar to the one he orchestrated with Diggs and Thielen. Overall, Keenum has quite a few things going for him but none of that matters if the KAM doesn’t think he can ball, and I’m not sure any GM really thinks Keenum can ball anymore.

Teddy Bridgewater

Bridgewater is currently the backup on the Lions but when Hendon Hooker returns the Lions will likely not have a need for Bridgewater, so the Vikings could try trading for the 30-year-old. Like Keenum, Bridgewater is familiar to the franchise but not to many of the players. He has shown flashes even outside of Minnesota but it seems most GMs agree Bridgewater is a capable backup without much starting potential.

Kyler Murray

Murray is supposedly completely healthy, but I don’t think that’s a gamble the Vikings will take. I doubt the Cards will let him go cheap, and asking him to learn a whole new playbook in under a week would interrupt his gaming activities so I don’t think this is happening.

Josh Dobbs

If the Cardinals believe Murray truly is back, they could be willing to deal Dobbs for cheap, but I see no reason the Vikings would be particularly interested. Dobbs doesn’t have as much experience as other veteran options but also lacks the potential upside of younger guys (like Hall).

Jameis Winston

I don’t think gambling on a QB who’s inconsistent but not particularly young is the path the Vikings will choose, but the Saints might be willing to deal Winston if they believe in Jake Haener.

Andy Dalton

Dalton could be another veteran option, but I’m guessing the Panthers want to keep him around to help out and back up Young, even if they’re sold on Young as their QB of the future.

Jacoby Brissett

The backup Commander has apparently garnered interest from trade partners. I don’t think the Vikings are desperate enough to enter a trade competition for any quarterback, but the fact that a Brissett trade has been discussed with other teams makes Brissett more plausible than most of these options.

Mike White

White gained fan hype as a Jet and is now backing up Tua in Miami. I don’t think the Vikings will be particularly interested and the Dolphins likely want multiple QB options given Tua’s history, so though White has some potential I don’t think this trade is likely.

Davis Mills

Mills has shown promise and apparently garnered trade interest before the season, but the consensus among GMs seems to be that he’s more of a backup than a starter. I also think the Texans want to keep him around and are unlikely to engage in any trades in the next two days.

Trey Lance

The Vikings were supposedly interested in Lance in the offseason, but with the uncertainty around Purdy I don’t think the 49ers will be dealing before the deadline (Update: I forgot Lance is now on the Cowboys lol. Still don’t think the Cowboys are gonna deal him tho). If they are willing to trade Lance at a reasonable price, this move would make some sense as Lance was considered to have a lot of potential coming out of college. If the Vikings don’t like Hall and want to experiment with someone else Lance could be an option.

Blaine Gabbert

Currently the Chiefs’ backup, Gabbert is one of the more capable backups in the league but there’s really nothing else to suggest he might get traded. I doubt either side is interested.

Marcus Mariota

The Eagles’ backup might have a bit more potential upside than Gabbert but I still don’t think either side is too interested in this trade.

John Wolford

The former high school standout worked with KOC in LA as the primary backup to Stafford. KOC has brought in several other players from LA (Mundt, Akers) so he could be looking into Wolford, who is currently on the Tampa Bay practice squad. I wouldn’t be too surprised if Wolford is the backup to Hall next week (when Mullens will still be out) but I don’t think he’s a long-term option.

Tanner Morgan

Morgan joined the Vikings practice squad for 5 days earlier this month. The former Gopher has an outside shot at a backup role behind Hall until Wolford gets healthy, but like Wolford I doubt he’s a long-term option.

Chad Henne

The former Chiefs backup turned down an offer from the Jets earlier this season; I think he’s set on retirement, but for the sake of completeness I’m including him on this list.

Finally, some rapid-fire options that are both unlikely and uninteresting:

Cooper Rush, Cowboys backup

Trevor Siemian, Jets backup

Drew Lock, Seahawks backup

C.J. Beathard, Jaguars backup

Of course there are plenty of other backup/third string QB options but we’re already at the point where there’s essentially no chance of these guys actually becoming a Viking this year.

Conclusion: I sure hope Jaren Hall is a competent NFL quarterback.

You may now go to the comments to discuss which options are most likely, debate potential trade compensation, or yell at me for forgetting some other obvious option (Peyton Manning can’t be *that* invested in ManningCast can he???).

Skol.