The Minnesota Vikings have had zero consistent options at quarterback since losing Kirk Cousins in Week 8, which has likely cost the team its playoff spot this January.

Those are the circumstances that, if repeated after an offseason to address them, could land head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the hot seat. Both men have been hesitant to commit to Cousins long-term since arriving on the scene two years ago, presumably due to his age.

Winning the NFC North and hosting a playoff game in 2022 bought the young duo some goodwill, but the decision to pursue Josh Dobbs via trade — rather than sign a free agent like Joe Flacco after Cousins’ Achilles injury — is a blow to the reputation of the Vikings’ leadership team as analytics-based wunderkinds operating ahead of the NFL curve.

Minnesota would pick No. 12 in the first round if the 2024 draft order was finalized today, which isn’t high enough to guarantee the Vikings even the fourth prospect off the board in one of the more stacked QB classes in recent memory. The franchise can’t afford to go all-in on a rookie and miss, and the free-agent market won’t be replete with top-end talent this offseason.

As such, Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac predicted on December 27 that the Vikings will make the safe move and lock up Cousins on a massive two-year extension.

“Cousins limps into free agency as the most experienced, productive QB set to become available. The 35-year-old carries a $40M valuation into the offseason, likely seeking his [fourth] consecutive fully-guaranteed contract,” Ginnitti wrote.

“Minnesota never lets Cousins hit the open market, agreeing to a two-year, $80 million, fully-guaranteed contract extension with their QB1, and under-contract Nick Mullens remains as the QB2.”