If a game were held tonight, Sam Darnold would be the starting quarterback.
Kevin O’Connell recently explained that Darnold is currently the top quarterback. “We haven’t had to put out a depth chart or anything like that,” O’Connell said, “but yeah, I would say Sam would be the guy I would look to based upon the spring he’s had. And really where he’s at in his career, in his quarterback journey. And what he’s been able to do coming in and really hit the ground running and take advantage of a competitive situation.”
During Minnesota Vikings Training Camp on August 3, 2023, in Eagan, MN, USA, head coach Kevin O’Connell threw a pass, as documented by Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
O’Connell also praised the other quarterbacks in Eagan, giving a brief but positive mention of Nick Mullens: “Nick Mullens has had a great spring […] I’ve told all four of those guys, ‘Look, depth charts are great to understand where I’m at currently today, but that will mean really nothing about the future.’” He referenced the Vikings needing four quarterbacks last season, implying an understanding of the volatility in football and the comfort of having multiple quarterbacks. In June, having an abundance of QB talent is a good problem.
On September 14, 2023, at Lincoln Financial Field, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) and quarterback Nick Mullens (12) were seen in the tunnel against the Philadelphia Eagles, as shown by Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
As a draft pick, Hall seems to have more job security in Minnesota, given the team’s decision to invest a 5th-round pick in the BYU passer. He’s also younger than the pair of more overlooked quarterbacks. This raises the question of whether Nick Mullens is the odd man out.
While O’Connell was optimistic about his quarterbacks, there’s no immediate rush to move anyone out in June, with real football still three months away. However, it’s likely the Vikings won’t carry four QBs on their roster, meaning someone will need to be moved. If it’s a cut, there’s a risk of losing a player for nothing.
Since the end of April, Mullens has appeared to be a candidate for a trade, which could give him a clearer path to playing time while allowing the Vikings to gain another pick and recoup some cap space. Mullens commands just $2.23 million in cap space for 2024, making him affordable for any NFL team. The cost to acquire him would likely be a Day 3 pick or even a late-round pick swap, a price most teams could afford.
Nick Mullens is a capable NFL quarterback, able to perform well with the right team around him. He’s a strong bridge QB/QB2, the type of player a team should want in its building. However, the Vikings’ plan clearly involves moving forward with Darnold and McCarthy, and they’ve invested in Hall as well. While a trade isn’t imminent, Mullens’ situation is one to monitor. In his five games in 2023, Mullens completed 67.6% of his passes for 1,306 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
