Latest NFL injury news has severe implication on Minnesota Vikings in more ways than one

Anthony Richardson injury impacts Vikings in multiple ways 

One of those quarterbacks was Daniel Jones, who the Vikings signed in November of last season. The thought process was simple: get him acclimated to the franchise in hopes that he would be the backup quarterback in 2025. If he chose to leave elsewhere, he could fetch a compensatory selection.

He did end up leaving, choosing to sign with the Indianapolis Colts. He believed that the Colts would give him a better chance to play, and that came a little bit closer to fruition. Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced that Richardson is dealing with a shoulder injury and will miss mandatory minicamp. He also could miss some of training camp, as his return date is sometime during training camp.

Normally, another team losing their quarterback wouldn't end up being impactful to the Vikings, but it is here. Jones is set to earn the Vikings a compensatory pick due to his contract with the Colts. The formula for compensatory picks is simple: a combination of your contract's average annual value plus the percentage of snaps you played that season. You can also earn bonus points in the formula with postseason awards.

Right now, Jones is set to get the Vikings a fifth-round compensatory pick. It could elevate to a fourth-round pick, which could end up being around 40 spots higher. That kind of draft capital is huge.

The other element is what do the Colts do with Anthony Richardson? Would they consider cutting the cord on the former fourth-overall pick? It's not something that you would necessarily think about doing, but teams have started to cut bait earlier with quarterbacks.

With the Vikings having their starter seemingly for the next decade, why would the Vikings try to bring in Richardson? Simple: the Kevin O'Connell quarterback rehab program.

He loves Richardson, and the Vikings tried really hard to trade for him in the 2023 NFL Draft, nearly having a deal with the Arizona Cardinals on draft day, but it didn't quite manifest.

Always having a quarterback in the pipeline to develop is a great strategy, not just to have on the roster, but also to continue bringing in compensatory selections.

This could have a huge impact on the Vikings both short and long-term.