Once heralded as a quick study of Kevin O’Connell’s offense, former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall is facing uncertainty in his NFL career.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2023 draft as a dart throw during the Kirk Cousins era, Hall was O’Connell’s first quarterback he drafted. Hall’s outlook in the NFL was projected as no more than a backup quarterback, but that outcome appears to be fleeting for the BYU product.
Since he was released by the Seattle Seahawks last April, Hall has not been rostered and could come up on a year without having a role in the NFL.
Hall showed promise in his rookie year after he was thrust into a starting role with both Cousins and Nick Mullens on injured reserve during the 2023 season. He completed 5 of 6 pass attempts for 78 yards in the first quarter of a Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons before he was knocked out of the game with a concussion.
That run left the door open for Joshua Dobbs‘ heroic comeback victory and the mania that followed his next four starts before ultimately being benched.
Hall was among a cast of quarterbacks competing in 2024 training camp behind Sam Darnold but did not make the final cut, leading to the Seattle Seahawks signing Hall. The Seahawks rostered him throughout the 2024 season and released him last April.
Hall turns 28 in March and could go a full year without being in an NFL organization.
Falcons Owner Non-Committal on Ex-Vikings QB Kirk Cousins’ Return After Telling Contract Move
GettyFalcons quarterback Kirk Cousins
Hall isn’t alone in his uncertain NFL future.
Despite winning five of his final seven starts with the Falcons, Cousins’ future in Atlanta looks bleak.
Following a 19-17 win over the New Orleans Saints to close the regular season, Cousins was asked if he would return for a 15th NFL season.
“We’ll see what the market is like in March”, he said during the live broadcast.
The Falcons’ ensuing actions of agreeing to a restructured deal with Cousins seem to signal he could be released before free agency opens in mid-March.
“As part of the restructure, there is now a guarantee in the amount of $67.9 million for the 2027 season that vests on March 13,” ESPN Field Yates reported on Tuesday, January 6. “Given the highly unlikely nature that the Falcons or any team that would acquire Cousins via a trade prior to March 13 would want to be on the hook for that $67.9 million, a decision on Cousins’ future could come prior to that date.”
Finally, owner Arthur Blank drove home the point that Cousins’ fate is far from secure.
“We look forward to having Michael back,” Blank said at an end-of-season news conference. “He’s had a good surgery. I spoke with the medical staff, seems to have gone well. Kirk, we’ll see what’ll happen with him moving forward.”
Vikings Expected to Be Aggressive in QB Market
After a disappointing season that saw the Vikings hedge their bets on J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota is expected to bring in more competition to McCarthy this offseason.
Last year, the message was that it was McCarthy’s job to start the season, which kept several interesting talents like Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones from signing.
That cannot be the same message this season with a roster that has veteran talent expecting to win now.
The job must be McCarthy’s to win, not lose, this summer.
Former Vikings QB’s NFL Future in Doubt Amid Season’s End