Next Vikings Opponent Employs Kevin O’Connell’s 1 Failed Project

When the Vikings parted ways with Mike Zimmer in the 2022 offseason, they wanted to bring an offensive guy into the building, someone who could elevate Kirk Cousins and eventually develop a rookie quarterback to replace him. A former QB himself, the Vikings hoped Kevin O’Connell could be the perfect coach for the job.

Next Vikings Opponent Employs Kevin O’Connell’s 1 Failed Project

Indeed, Cousins appeared more in charge in O’Connell’s offense and had an outstanding campaign in 2023 under his tutelage. O’Connell also created a magical run with Joshua Dobbs under center, making him look like a Pro Bowler for a few weeks.

Later, Nick Mullens threw for close to 400 yards in seemingly every game. And, of course, Sam Darnold’s career year has earned him leaguewide respect and secured the player a payday in the offseason and the coach one of the top spots in the Coach of the Year race.

But there’s one asterisk. What happened to Jaren Hall?

In the 2023 offseason, the Vikings missed out on the top QBs in the class. It’s certainly possible ‒ and there are reports that suggest it ‒ that they were interested in trading up to grab Cousins’ successor as he entered the final year of his contract with the organization.

However, they still took a shot, choosing BYU passer Jaren Hall to Minnesota in the fifth round and adding him to the room with Cousins and Mullens.

On Sunday, when the operation travels to Seattle to compete against the Seahawks, Hall will be on the opposing sideline. He is the team’s practice squad quarterback, and given Geno Smith’s injury suffered in the game against the Packers, he might be an option for a promotion as insurance in case the veteran can’t go or suffers a setback in the game.

Back to his time in purple. Hall was expected to redshirt his rookie season. He made the 53-man roster and was supposed to learn behind the two veterans. His preseason performances were underwhelming, but rookies, especially quarterbacks, don’t have to be perfect from day one.

A few weeks into the season, Mullens suffered a back injury, and Hall suddenly became QB2. Once again, he was not supposed to enter a game, and Cousins’s non-existent injury history made it unlikely, although not impossible.

But, of course, the catastrophic injury happened, and Hall was asked to play the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field and then start in Atlanta a few days later. After a bunch of handoffs against the Packers and a solid scripted drive against the Falcons, Hall was knocked out of the game with a concussion when he attempted to scramble into the endzone.

Dobbs-mania started, and Hall was back on the bench. When he returned from his concussion, Mullens had already returned for backup duties, and Dobbs was balling.

Because the two experienced QBs continued to turn the ball over, Hall got the nod for the pivotal contest with playoff implications against the Packers. A prime opportunity in primetime to show the Vikings that he should be the starter in 2024 following Cousins’ scheduled departure.

That game was a disaster for the Vikings and Hall. He looked unprepared and simply not equipped for NFL football, spooked by the pass rush, hesitant in his decision-making, and inaccurate throwing the ball.

O’Connell benched him for Mullens at halftime, and Hall wouldn’t play another snap for the Vikings.

In the 2024 offseason, the Vikings swapped Cousins for Darnold and added J.J. McCarthy with the tenth overall pick, virtually ending all other QB of the future scenarios. After another up-and-down preseason, the Vikings released him and signed Brett Rypien to take over as QB3 behind Darnold and Mullens.

Despite a rumored return to Minnesota’s practice squad, he signed with the Seahawks who also employ Smith and Washington’s 2022 rookie Sam Howell.

And he remains the one passer O’Connell couldn’t elevate (at least for a few games) since the Vikings hired him in 2022.

His career statistics show 13 of 20 passes completed for 168 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. He rushed for 14 rushing yards.

Fifth-rounders rarely turn out to be starters in the NFL, but if a supposed QB whisperer is giving up on a QB after his second preseason 16 months after spending a draft pick on him and putting countless hours into his development, doesn’t bode well for Hall’s future in the NFL.

Hall will turn 27 in March.