Vikings are expected to sign a multiyear contract with a breakout $2 million star.

Josh Dobbs, the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, suddenly had a lot more options available to him as an NFL phenomenon.

If Dobbs stays healthy, he will almost certainly captain the Vikings for the remainder of the season, which is good news for the team’s chances of making the playoffs in 2023. Another is the franchise’s short- and medium-term futures, though Dobbs has an opportunity to influence those discussions as well.

On Saturday, November 18, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine made an early prediction: Dobbs will sign a two-year extension with the Vikings in the spring.

This season, it’s simple to get carried away by Dobbs’ stats. With 11 touchdowns to five interceptions, he ranks 13th in total quarterback rating and has helped the Vikings win both of his games in which he has played.

However, his market becomes more reasonable when you take into account his career to date and the amount of money teams have traditionally spent for a player of his caliber. After a comparable spell as the interim quarterback for the Cleveland Browns [in 2022], Jacoby Brissett was signed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract. That matches exactly with the $18 million, two-year contract Spotrac just projected for Dobbs.

The Vikings should gladly pay the price if that is what it takes. Over the next two seasons, as they attempt to develop his heir, Dobbs can keep them competitive.

In the event that the Vikings do bring Dobbs back, they have a few options for where to place him on the depth chart.

With a $4.1 million contract that runs through the 2026 season, rookie Jaren Hall will be easy to keep in Minnesota as a backup and/or Dobbs’ eventual successor. Then there’s the issue of Kirk Cousins, a six-year starter who will be 36 years old when he plays next season.

This week, Cousins made it known that he plans to play for the Vikings in 2024 and that he plans to retire in Minnesota when the time comes. He also plans to return to the NFL in 2024.

“Since my arrival, it has always been that way,” Cousins said to KFAN on Friday. “I know there are many options, but I want to be a Viking, retire as a Viking, and complete my career here.”

The problem is in the fact that Cousins will make $35 million in total in 2023 and that he was doing well enough before suffering an Achilles injury on October 29 to warrant a comparable pay in 2024. In contrast, Dobbs is only making $2 million this season, and it’s possible that his next contract won’t pay him $10 million a year.

On November 14, Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report wrote that, due in large part to his potential willingness to accept a one-year contract, Cousins’ chances of returning to Minnesota following his injury are significantly greater. In those conditions, Cousins, Dobbs, and Hall might return to the Vikings in 2024, though it seems doubtful.

There are other possibilities available to the former NFL player if Cousins and Dobbs are unable to get along.

Ballentine also suggested on Saturday that Cousins might end up with the Atlanta Falcons in relation to Dobbs possibly inking a two-year agreement with the Vikings.

Kirk Cousins should be a top target for many teams should he find himself on the free-agent market.

The Vikings have already committed to a $28.5 million void year for the upcoming campaign. Discovering a less expensive substitute, such as Dobbs, who is currently on their roster, might provide them with an out of the Cousins era. If they accept it, there are a number of teams who would benefit from having a seasoned player take over and stabilize their attack. The Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers were mentioned as potential contenders by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, respectively.

Arthur Smith might be in a prove-it year, so the Falcons make the most sense. Cousins would be a huge improvement after riding with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinecke.