Vikings Dubbed a Top Landing Spot

The quarterback situation looms as the most significant uncertainty for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, and the upcoming free agency emerges as a plausible avenue to find a solution.

Matt Holder of Bleacher Report has identified the Minnesota Vikings as a potential landing spot for Mason Rudolph, the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their upcoming playoff game during Super Wild Card Weekend.

While Rudolph wasn’t initially considered a notable impending free agent at the start of the season or even a month ago, the Steelers’ offense has notably improved under his leadership. Despite the team’s season-long average of 17.9 points per game (ranking 28th in the NFL), they surged to 27.0 ppg (fifth) in the last three games.

Considering the relatively weak free-agent quarterback class, the notion of investing in a competent backup signal-caller gains significance. Rudolph now has an opportunity to showcase his abilities on Super Wild Card Weekend, potentially catching the attention of other teams for a quarterback competition in training camp.

While some Vikings fans might express skepticism about Rudolph taking the helm, there are valid reasons to consider adding him to the roster in various scenarios. One scenario involves him serving as a backup to Kirk Cousins if the team retains its six-season starter. Alternatively, if the Vikings decide to part ways with Cousins and opt for a quarterback in the draft, Rudolph can provide an experienced and capable backup. In this case, if the newly acquired quarterback needs time to develop under head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system, Rudolph can step in and lead the offense effectively.

Rudolph boasts a decent record as a starter with an 8-4-1 record. Throughout his NFL career, he has completed 63.5% of his 458 pass attempts, accumulating 3,085 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, according to Pro Football Reference. With a reasonable salary of $1.08 million in 2023, Rudolph proves to be an affordable option for the Vikings, allowing flexibility in managing the cap alongside Cousins, a first-round QB, or both.

As the Vikings have nearly $40 million at their disposal for the 2024 season, they should have the financial capacity to secure Rudolph and navigate their quarterback situation effectively.