The Minnesota Vikings and LSU quarterback prospect Jayden Daniels share mutual interest. ESPN insider Dan Graziano reported that pairing Daniels with Justin Jefferson is appealing to some within the Vikings organization. Graziano stated on February 10 that Minnesota recognizes the need to address the quarterback position in the long term, and the idea of bringing in Daniels to team up with star wide receiver Justin Jefferson holds appeal.
Darren Wolfson of KSTP echoed similar sentiments from Daniels’ side, stating that the Heisman Trophy contender, expected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft, would find it enjoyable to join the Vikings. Wolfson’s post on X (formerly Twitter) indicated that this information came from sources close to Daniels.
And Daniels, no surprise, would enjoy landing here = the word.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 10, 2024
Vikings a Candidate to Trade Up to No. 3 to Land Jayden Daniels: ESPN
Since declining a long-term extension deal with Kirk Cousins last offseason, the Vikings have set themselves up to transition away from the seasoned quarterback. However, they currently lack a clear succession plan, with only Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall under contract for the upcoming season. Both backup quarterbacks failed to inspire confidence when filling in for Cousins, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on October 29, missing the final nine games.
This situation highlights both short- and long-term quarterback needs for the Vikings. Ideally, they would prefer to give a first-round prospect a year to develop behind a veteran starter. While parting ways with Cousins would pose challenges for the team in 2024 due to the loss of a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback and the substantial $28.5 million dead cap hit, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has expressed a willingness to take a step back to strengthen the organization’s future prospects.
This mindset increases the likelihood of the Vikings exploring a trade-up scenario, with Graziano identifying them and the Atlanta Falcons as prime candidates to move up to the No. 3 pick, currently held by the New England Patriots. Graziano notes that while the Patriots also require a quarterback, they might be open to trading the pick to address the position in free agency. If such a trade occurs, Graziano suggests the Falcons (moving from the No. 8 spot) and the Vikings (moving from the No. 11 spot, assuming Cousins doesn’t return) as potential suitors.
Even if the Vikings secure a top quarterback prospect like Daniels, they would likely seek to sign a veteran quarterback for the upcoming season at a more reasonable price. This move would avoid committing any guarantees against the salary cap beyond the 2024 season.
Kirk Cousins Expected to Command a Strong Market in Free Agency
To clarify, both the Vikings and Kirk Cousins have expressed a desire for him to return to the team, a sentiment reiterated several times over the past year.
However, despite this mutual interest, a deal wasn’t reached before the start of the 2023 season due to financial considerations, leaving Cousins in a contract year.
Cousins is planning to explore free agency once it opens in March, and according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, he is expected to attract significant interest on the market. Pelissero anticipates that Cousins, despite being 35 years old and recovering from a torn Achilles injury, will command a strong market, potentially surpassing the terms of the Vikings’ previous extension offers.
Pelissero stated on NFL Network’s “NFL Gameday” on February 11 that while the Vikings would prefer to re-sign Cousins, they are aware of the possibility that he might choose to sign elsewhere. In such a scenario where the price becomes too high, the Vikings would likely explore other options, potentially pursuing a more cost-effective veteran quarterback.
The Insiders on @NFLGameDay: A look at some of the QBs who'll get paid this offseason, spotlighting #Vikings free agent QB Kirk Cousins, #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, and #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. pic.twitter.com/HbjdQiKM98
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 11, 2024
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