The Vikings are on the verge of acquiring a quarterback worth $49 million as a replacement for Kirk Cousins.
The Minnesota Vikings got a preview of the potential scenarios for the 2023 offseason when they had to quickly find a replacement quarterback following Kirk Cousins’ season-ending Achilles tear.
It appears they might revisit discussions from that period, particularly considering one report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on October 31. According to Russini, the Vikings explored the possibility of acquiring Jacoby Brissett, the backup for the Washington Commanders, before ultimately securing Josh Dobbs.
Brissett could be considered a transitional quarterback for the 2024 season while the Vikings work on developing a rookie quarterback for the following season. This strategic move aligns with their plan to reload for a competitive run in 2025, capitalizing on the significant cap space available for free agency.
QB Jacoby Brissett’s Fit With Vikings
Selected in the third round by the New England Patriots in 2016, Brissett found himself traded to the Indianapolis Colts following a sprain to Andrew Luck’s AC joint. In his debut season, Brissett faced challenges with a struggling offensive line that couldn’t adequately protect Luck, the quarterback with the most hits for three consecutive seasons. Despite a difficult situation, Brissett, recognized for his ball security, emerged as a dependable game manager.
Although boasting an 18-30 career record, Brissett has maintained a commendable 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, throwing 51 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in his 48 starts.
He has showcased his adaptability by contributing to the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns, winning games even when fitting into offensive systems not tailored to his strengths. Brissett’s career narrative revolves around stepping in for injured starters and guiding teams as far as possible.
While he may not be a quarterback to dramatically enhance an offense, Brissett has proven effective at complementing the talent surrounding him, and the Vikings, recognizing this, expressed interest in him during the trade deadline.
This interest, possibly spurred by a sense of urgency, underscores the Vikings’ perception of Brissett as a potential asset to their plans, particularly in a season where they anticipated competing without Cousins or Jefferson for a significant period.
Despite earning $49 million throughout his career, Brissett’s recent contract with the Commanders for the 2023 season was a more modest $8 million, providing the Vikings with additional financial flexibility for roster rebuilding in free agency.
