The Minnesota Vikings still don’t have a backup quarterback heading into the NFL Draft. One of the proposed reasons why the Vikings haven’t signed a backup quarterback yet is due to the compensatory pick formula. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was asked about that and gave a very insightful answer.
“You know, it hasn’t only been about the comp pick situation, but we are on the lookout for that. The comp pick thing is always a thing where last year, we brought in Greenard, forfeited a comp pick. It’s an opportunity cost of signing somebody. It’s not the end-all be-all. When you find a 27-year-old pass rusher who fits your team and skill sets, should you want you go do it? Because you ask yourself, what would I rather have? And the answer sometimes is, I would rather have that really good player. Other times, the answer is something different. But quarterback-wise, we’re going to focus on just as my staff always does best opportunities there. So we’re not going to rush it either way, but we’re always mindful of it.”
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Vikings backup QB target available via trade
Weighing the cost of signing a backup quarterback versus the compensatory formula is an interesting one. It also tells us that the Vikings haven’t found one that is worth potentially forfeiting that pick.
One player that could be the backup quarterback option for the Vikings is Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell, as they are now open to trade him.
The writing was on the wall when the Seahawks signed Drew Lock back to the roster with the idea of having him compete for the backup job. Seahawks general manager John Schneider spoke highly of Howell despite being put in a bad situation.
“Sam was put in a very hard spot last year,” Schneider told the radio station. “He comes in, he’s learning a new system. The year before, I think he led the league in attempts, and they didn’t run the ball at all. We loved the toughness and everything. He comes in, learns a whole new system that was heavy, heavy dropback and gets thrown into a game where we’re behind, we’re throwing the ball every play, backed up. It didn’t go well for him. He would admit that, probably from a preparation standpoint, too. But he wasn’t put in a great spot.”
A couple of the points that Schneider mentioned about Howell will translate for head coach Kevin O’Connell. The toughness and willingness to stand in the pocket is really impressive and something that O’Connell can work with. He’s maximized every quarterback during his time in Minnesota, and having a player like that with wheels could be a huge benefit for the Vikings.
What would the cost end up being for the Vikings here? It’s likely a day three pick swap, something like pick 187 for 223 and Howell. The Seahawks gave up much more than that with pick swaps, but it didn’t end up working out. The Vikings could benefit, including J.J. McCarthy, as Howell has valuable experience with his shortcomings in Washington.