Who Should I Start? Phillip Walker or Nick Mullens

Tuesday, August 27, 8:02 PM

The Seattle Seahawks waived wide receiver Dee Eskridge and released PJ Walker, linebacker Blake Lynch, cornerback Artie Burns and safety Marquise Blair on Tuesday. Injuries limited Eskridge to 24 games (zero starts) in his three seasons with Seattle after they took him in the second round (56th overall) out of Western Michigan. In those 24 games with the Seahawks, he had just 17 receptions (34 targets) for 122 yards and one touchdown. If the 27-year-old pass-catcher clears waivers, he could rejoin the team on their practice squad. Walker will hit the open market, which isn't surprising after the team added Sam Howell as the backup to starter Geno Smith this offseason. The 29-year-old appeared in six games (two starts) with the Cleveland Browns in 2023 and completed a career-low 48.6% of his passes for 674 yards, one TD and five interceptions.

Thursday, August 15, 9:45 AM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens will start Saturday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Despite a challenging 2023 season where he went 0-3 with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions as a starter, Mullens is now firmly positioned as the No. 2 quarterback. Following him on the depth chart is second-year pro Jaren Hall. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence in Mullens due to his solid grasp of the offense. Mullens is known for his high-risk, high-reward style and had notable success during his time with the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Vikings. Though he tends to turn the ball over, with 31 career interceptions in just 20 starts, he also boasts 34 touchdown passes. Last season, after Kirk Cousins' injury, Mullens had mixed results in five games (three starts), with a respectable 8.8 yards per attempt but eight interceptions. Mullens is a veteran with the potential to deliver strong performances, particularly if he maintains his solid rapport with star receiver Justin Jefferson.