The Minnesota Vikings added to their quarterback room over the weekend by acquiring veteran signal-caller Nick Mullens in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. Mullens is expected to get a chance to compete for a backup position for the remainder of the preseason.
The Vikings announced the move on Monday, sharing that the trade cost was a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The pick will reportedly convey to the Raiders in case Mullen is active for at least one week during the 2022 season.
Speaking about the trade on Monday, the Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell said that the franchise saw “a chance to add a really good player” and acted on it.
“We’ll be excited to get him here and get him rolling,” O’Connell added.
Cousins is penciled as the Vikings’ starter, but the rest of the QB room is not instilling any confidence. Veteran Sean Mannion and second-year player Kellen Mond have looked shaky throughout the training camp and preseason, making the coaching staff unsure about their ability to step in if something happens to Cousins.
Nick Mullens has proved he has that ability, having filled in for Jimmy Garoppolo on two separate occasions while with the San Francisco 49ers. Mullens started eight games in 2018 after Garoppolo tore his ACL and another eight in 2020 when Jimmy G suffered an ankle sprain.
Mullens, who also has one start for the Cleveland Browns, has completed 64.5 percent of his passes in the NFL while throwing for 4,714 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also has 22 interceptions.
