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NFL 2023: Predicting the starting QB for all 32 teams pre-NFL Free Agency

By Sayre Bedinger

2023 NFL offseason: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers runs onto the field before a game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on January 08, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
2023 NFL offseason: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers runs onto the field before a game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on January 08, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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2023 NFL offseason
2023 NFL offseason; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes the ball against the New York Giants during the first quarter of a wild card game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports /

Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins

Possible backup options: Nick Mullens, Carson Wentz, Draft pick

The Kirk Cousins era in Minnesota will roll right along. You like that?

Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings were one of the truly great stories of the 2022 NFL season. O’Connell left his job with the Super Bowl champion Rams to come to the midwest, and he found himself winning the NFC North as a rookie coach and proving to do a masterful job at managing the game in tight situations.

The Vikings were undefeated in one-score games until their playoff matchup against the New York Giants. This team found ways to galvanize at the most unlikely of moments throughout the season. We saw this team win on the road against Buffalo in a shootout. We saw them come back from down 150-0 at halftime against the Indianapolis Colts.

And we saw Kirk Cousins throw for over 4,000 yards again. This time, Cousins finished the year with eight fourth-quarter comebacks and eight game-winning drives in total. It was a tremendous season for him, individually, and he continued a near-decade of just remarkable consistency.

Kirk Cousins since 2015 (17-game average)

  • 4,530 yards
  • 67.5 completion rate
  • 31 touchdowns
  • 11 INT

Most teams would love to have that kind of production out of their QB position and Cousins has been doing it every year since 2015. But can the Vikings win it all with him under center? There’s another level Kirk must yet reach as an NFL QB. His stats are impressive.

Behind Cousins, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Nick Mullens brought back since the Vikings traded for him, but perhaps someone like Carson Wentz could be interesting, too.

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