In my first article (which you will find here) I talked about Kirk Cousins and what type of quarterback he was. I looked at his 2021 stats, and his stints with Minnesota and Washington. I also mentioned who the Vikings couldn’t realistically get at quarterback. Now it’s time to look at who the Vikings could get and if they would be any better than Kirk Cousins. In this article I will be looking at quarterbacks from the NFC. These will be Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance, Jalen Hurts, Carsen Wentz, Justin Fields, and Jared Goff. I will explore their 2021 season stats, anything else worth noting, and whether or not the Vikings should/could trade for them. Now onto Garoppolo.
Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo started 15 games for the 49ers in 2021 helping them to a 9-6 record. During the season he had a completion percentage of 68.3% with 3,810 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a passer rating of 98.7. The 49ers last season made the playoffs beating Dallas (23-17) and Green Bay (13-10) before losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champions Los Angeles Rams (20-17).
Garoppolo has only played a full season twice in his career. Since his arrival in San Francisco, he has struggled with injuries missing the majority of 2018 with an ACL tear. He also missed a large portion of 2020, starting in only six games due to injuries. In the only other season when he’s been healthy, he led the 49ers to a 13-3 record and helped take them to the Super Bowl (2019), losing to the Chiefs. In 2019 Garoppolo had a completion percentage of 69.1%, 3,978 yards passing, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a QBR of 102.0.
Would I trade for Garoppolo if I were the Vikings? Unfortunately no. For me he is too big a risk to gamble trading for. The 49ers have been looking to trade him, so if the price was right maybe (like a late round draft pick), but still unlikely. I don’t think he is better than Cousins statistically. Garoppolo has been in the biggest games and that experience is valuable. If you could guarantee he would stay healthy (which you can’t) I would definitely consider it. When he’s healthy he has taken the 49ers to the Super Bowl and NFC Championship game.
Unfortunately, that is only two out of the eight seasons he’s played in the NFL. He’s proven he can get to the biggest games, and the Vikings have a roster that would support him and with better talent than what the 49ers currently have. All-in-all, I would have to pass given the risk.
Trey Lance
In 2021, Trey Lance started two games and played in an additional four going 1-1 in his starts. He had a completion percentage of 57.7%, throwing for 603 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions with a QBR of 97.3. We haven’t seen much of a look at Lance in the NFL. At North Dakota State University, he played one full season, starting in 16 games going 16-0 and winning the FCS National Championship. He had a completion percentage of 66.9%, throwing for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Would I trade for Trey Lance if I were the Vikings? No. The 49ers aren’t likely to trade him. If they were, it wouldn’t be cheap. Lance would need to be way cheaper than what the 49ers would want. I would not want someone unproven and still with a lot of question marks, regardless of what is coming out of the 49ers camp. For the price they would likely ask, he would not be worth it. This is an easy choice, pass.
Jalen Hurts
Hurts is going into his third season in the NFL. He only started four games in 2020, going 1-3 but played in eleven additional games. In 2021, Hurts started 15 games going 8-7, helping lead the Eagles into the playoffs. He had a completion percentage of 61.3%, throwing for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with a QBR of 48.5. Early in camp this year, Hurts has made encouraging improvements, yet is still struggling in some areas. So, it would seem while he has made progress, he still has a bit of a ways to go.
Would I trade for Hurts if I were the Vikings? No. I would consider giving up a late round draft pick or two for him to sit behind Cousin’s and develop a little bit, but Philadelphia won’t give him up for that. He’s young and has potential and Philly sees that. He led the Eagles to the playoffs last season, and they aren’t looking to trade away a part of their future. I do think with his potential he could succeed with the Vikings. Their roster would be an upgrade over Philadelphia’s, but no way would I consider starting him over Kirk as of this moment. Another pass.
Carson Wentz
Wentz has been on the move recently, struggling to be good enough to stay somewhere longer than a season. In 2021 with the Colts, Wentz started 17 games helping the team to a 9-8 record. He had a completion percentage of 62.4%, throwing for 3,563 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions with a QBR of 54.7. Wentz has yet to recapture the success he had with the Eagles in 2017, where he led the team to an 11-2 start before missing the rest of the season with an injury. Injuries have plagued Wentz ever since causing him to miss twelve games over the last five seasons.
Would I trade for Carson Wentz if I were the Vikings? A semi-difficult choice but no. If I could get the Wentz from 2017, absolutely. Unfortunately, Wentz hasn’t had that success since his injury. Even reuniting with Frank Reich couldn’t get him back to that form. If I could get that Wentz, it would be a no brainer. Washington would likely trade him for very little. If he was as good as he was in 2017, then I would give up Kirk for him, but not this Carson Wentz, pass.
Justin Fields
Justin Fields is entering his second season with the Bears. In his first season in Chicago, Fields started in ten games going 2-8, while playing in another two. He had a completion percentage of 58.9%, throwing for 1,870, seven touchdowns, and ten interceptions with a QBR of 26.4. While not a great year for the rookie, don’t be fooled by the stats. Fields has a lot of promise and talent. Last season was a mess for the Bears, especially at quarterback, but Fields appears to have what it takes to improve and become a good quarterback, bouncing back from a rough rookie season.
Would I trade for him if I were the Vikings? Yes, for the right price. Here me out before you call me crazy. While I have no doubt he would cost an arm and leg and then some to get him from Chicago (a division rival no less), he has the potential to be very talented and succeed in the league. The Vikings roster is a major step up from what they’ve got over in Chicago. The coaching staff should be able to help if he were to come to Minneapolis. For the right price I would trade for him and have him sit behind Kirk for the season and learn the offense. Then see, come the offseason if he would be ready to start or not. If Chicago gave me a good offer I would trade for him, deal.
Jared Goff
Jared Goff’s first season in Detroit wasn’t great. Goff started in 14 games last season with the Lions going 3-10-1. He had a completion percentage of 67.2% throwing for 3,245 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions with a QBR of 39.5. While nowhere near what he was averaging in Los Angeles, it was hard to expect him to go from a Super Bowl team to a three-win team. Goff’s best season came when the Rams went to the Super Bowl in 2018. Goff helped lead the Rams to a 13-3 record with a completion percentage of 64.9%, throwing for 4,688 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a QBR of 63.6. Goff has only surpassed 4,000 one other time (2019) and hasn’t thrown more than 30 touchdowns before or since.
Would I trade for Goff if I were the Vikings? No. This wasn’t too hard of a choice. Goff on average isn’t anywhere near as good as Cousins. He was on a team with a great defense and Sean McVay and still put-up mediocre numbers and struggled to win ten games at points. Goff peaked during the 2018-19 seasons. While still a decent quarterback who can get you wins on a team with a good roster, you won’t win with him with anything less. He certainly isn’t better than Cousins. Very easy pass.
Summary
To summarize, the only quarterback whom I would believe the Vikings could realistically get out of the NFC would be Justin Fields. I would consider trading for Jalen Hurts or Jimmy Garoppolo but for very little (late round draft picks). I wouldn’t trade for Wentz, Lance, or Goff. Wentz and Goff haven’t been able to replicate what they’ve done in the best seasons. Lance is still unproven and has very little to go off of. I consider all three to be way too risky to trade for.
If it weren’t for Garoppolo only playing two full seasons (out of eight) due to injuries, it would be tempting to trade for him. Fields is the only quarterback I see worth trading for (providing Chicago would give a reasonable price). Fields has a lot of potential and talent with a lot to work with. Paired with a Vikings roster that would be much better than the Bears, it seems like a good fit. I would have him spend a year behind Cousins before seeing if he is ready to take the reins.
Stay Tuned
Stay tuned for my third and final article in this series where I will look at the quarterbacks the Vikings could realistically get from the AFC.