It was bound to happen eventually, but Kirk Cousins has tested positive for COVID-19. The Minnesota Vikings announced Sean Mannion will be the starter this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. However, was this the right decision?

The Vikings drafted Kellen Mond in the third round, and he was considered a project at the time. Yet, there was a lot to like about the 22-year-old. He spent four seasons at Texas A&M and was the starter every year.

He was so-so during his freshman year, but what can you expect from a young kid playing in the SEC. It wasn’t until his sophomore, junior and senior year did he show out. In his final season for the Aggies, he finished with 2,282 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and three interceptions.

He’s not your traditional quarterback either, he can also get out of the pocket and run. He only scrambled for 294 yards and four touchdowns in his senior year, but during his junior season, he recorded 501 yards and eight TDs.

Mond brings the most upside against the Packers. He will either look like the next great thing or look like complete shit. There’s no in-between, but I’d take my chances with that over Mannion.

You already know what you’re getting from the former Oregon State quarterback. He was drafted in 2015 by the then St. Louis Rams and has gone 0-2 in his only two starts.

• First start: 20-34, 169 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT
• Second start: 12-21, 126 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INT

Mannion is yet to throw a TD.

The Vikings have already announced that he will be the starter this Sunday night against the Packers. It’s likely that he continues his streak without a touchdown and will throw for about 150 yards.

Why not go for the higher upside play in Mond? The Vikings will be running the ball heavy against the Packers because it’s going to be less than 10 degrees. Minnesota could look explosive with Dalvin Cook and whatever quarterback design runs they come up with.

The Vikings should have started Mond, especially if they believe there’s some future with him in the NFL.