Former Michigan quarterback netted backup in Vikings trade proposal

If the Minnesota Vikings play their cards right this offseason and regular season, they will be Super Bowl contenders in no time. 

It's no secret that former national champion J.J. McCarthy will take over the starting job in Minnesota after a torn ACL prevented his actual rookie year from starting last year. 

And with other offensive weapons such as running back Aaron Jones and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the ceiling for Kevin O'Connell's team is sky high, especially after the incredible 2024 season they put together. 

However, the team has hit a bit of a snag making McCarthy their man, and that is that they don't have any true veteran backups available behind him. 

Entering training camp as QB2 is Sam Howell, who was prolific in Washington before Jayden Daniels appeared, but other than that, he has little to show that he is deserving of the backup role. 

According to Matt Holder of Bleacher Report, he believes that a reuniting of the Vikings and former starting quarterback Kirk Cousins could be in order. 

"“There aren’t many starting quarterback spots open around the league right now, so Cousins might be stuck in Atlanta until another team suffers an injury in training camp,” Holder wrote. “If that happens, the Falcons should act quickly and just get what they can for the 36-year-old since the team doesn’t plan on playing him this season.”

Cousins would be the ideal backup. A system he's already familiar with, the chemistry he has with Jefferson, whom most would consider the best receiver in the league, the charisma he holds with the Viking fanbase, and the overall veteran presence the signal caller carries should put Cousins at the top of Minnesota's list of potential backups for the young McCarthy.