Jaren Hall: Get to know the Minnesota Vikings' next starting quarterback (2024)

While the 2023 NFL season is nearing its end, the quarterback carousel keeps spinning. And the Minnesota Vikings have provided more than their fair share of momentum.

Kirk Cousins was the team's starter, but an Achilles injury ended his campaign early. Jaren Hall briefly took the reins, before another injury thrust Joshua Dobbs into the spotlight. He then gave way to Nick Mullens, who started three games after the Vikings' bye.

But now, another change is in the cards. And heading into Week 17, Hall has once again gotten the call. Here's all you need to know about the quarterback.

Why is Jaren Hall Starting?

While there are plenty of cliches in the world of football, few carry the same importance as those focusing on avoiding turnovers. If you don't have the ball in your possession, after all, it's tough to score.

That reality, it seems, is at least part of what gave Hall another chance at the top job.

During his brief time under center, Mullens threw four touchdown passes and a painful six interceptions. Four of those came during a single outing against the Lions, and the signal-caller could have had even more turnovers, but his two fumbles were recovered by the Vikings.

"We have to maintain possession of the football," Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell said. "The turnover margin has been well-talked-about all season long, and I just felt like, at this time, giving Jaren a full week of preparation and a clear-cut mindset on the game plan [was best].

Beyond that, there's probably an element of seeing what Hall can offer. He's on the Vikings books, and if he's going to remain on the roster, whether that's as a starter or a backup, the club needs to know what he's capable of.

Heading into Week 17, Hall will be the starter. Mullens will still dress as his backup.

Where Did Hall Play College Football?

Given that he's relatively new to the NFL scene, it's reasonable to want to know a bit more about Hall and his football career.

The Utah native stayed close to home and played his college football at BYU. He started out sitting behind Zach Wilson on the depth chart and, after a redshirt year in 2020, took over the starting job.

Hall threw for 2,583 yards and 20 touchdowns during the 2021 campaign, and only improved the following year. He piled up 3,171 passing yards in 2022, adding 31 touchdowns to his resume.

How Did Hall Join the Vikings?

On the back of his BYU career, Hall decided to go pro. And while his body of work didn't catapult him into the upper echelon of stardom, it was enough to earn him a place in the pros.

The Vikings selected the quarterback in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and inked him to a four-year contract worth just over $4 million.

Has Hall Ever Played in an NFL Game?

While Hall might not be a household name, he has seen limited NFL action during his brief career.

When Cousins got hurt in Week 8, Hall was the one who stepped into the breach. He didn't contribute much that night, though, completing three of his four passes for 23 yards. Hall then started the following week but was knocked out of the game with a concussion. He posted another modest stat line, completing five passes for 78 yards before leaving.

That makes Week 17 a massive opportunity, but also a huge gamble. If he delivers, the young quarterback will put his credentials on display for the entire football world. An ugly loss, however, not only puts a bad foot forward but seriously dents Minnesota's postseason dreams.

What Type of Player is Hall?

Given that we haven't seen much of Hall at the highest level, it's fair to wonder what he'll bring to the table.

On the Vikings' website, they refer to Hall as a "dual-threat quarterback" during his time at BYU. The stats—181 carries for 800 yards and nine touchdowns across his NCAA career—don't exactly paint the image of the next Lamar Jackson, but running was part of Hall's playbook.

And, for a bit of extra context, we can pull in some scouting reports.

"An undersized pocket quarterback with unimpressive arm strength, Hall's field command gives him a shot to make it at the next level," Lance Zierlein wrote on NFL.com. "He throws with excellent ball placement to targets on the move and delivers a feathery soft deep ball with accuracy. His lack of drive velocity creates smaller margins for error and his timing needs to be impeccable to beat NFL man coverage. Hall operates with ideal poise from the pocket. He does an adequate job of reading coverages and getting rid of the ball without taking sacks. The size and arm strength will concern some teams, but offenses operating out of heavy play-action with levels-based route concepts could target him as a solid future backup."

The BYU product's NFL comparison was listed as Garner Minshew, if that helps put things in more tangible terms.

Turning to Bleacher Report's analysis, Hall was called an "above-average athlete. Enough to effectively scramble and live outside the pocket." The strengths section also mentioned his arm strength and accuracy.

As for the weaknesses, the scouting report cited Hall's small stature, "inconsistent ball placement" and struggles playing within structure.

So, what does that all mean for the rookie's NFL baptism by fire? In all likelihood, the Vikings will try to keep things simple. There's no reason to reinvent the wheel, especially with an inexperienced operator at the helm. Leaning on shorter, quick-hitting routes will make sense, as will leaning on wide receiver Justin Jefferson's all-world skill set.

And, if those basics click, maybe there will be room to sprinkle in a few deep passes or even a designed run.

Ultimately, though, Hall is getting what every athlete dreams about: a chance to prove it on the biggest stage. Now, we'll just have to see how he handles the opportunity.