The Minnesota Vikings surpassed expectations this season even after playing most of the campaign without original starting quarterback Sam Bradford. That was largely because of backup quarterback Case Keenum, but even though Keenum was able to tow the Vikings to the NFC title game, barely anyone is seriously considering him as the long-term solution under center for Minnesota. Vikings receiver Adam Thielen knows one quarterback who could be, though.

During an appearance Thursday on NFL Network, Thielen threw his hat into the ring for the inevitable Kirk Cousins sweepstakes, saying that while he has full confidence in Bradford, Keenum, and Teddy Bridgewater, he implies that Kirk Cousins would be an amazing addition to Minnesota.

Via Alec Brzezinski of Sporting News.

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“Most teams are looking for one guy, we had three guys this year,” Thielen said about the Vikings' QB situation. “Three guys that I have a ton of confidence in and don't get enough credit, so it's interesting to see what they're going to do.

“But there's another guy out there now, Kirk Cousins. You never know. If we can't get one of those three guys to stick around, Kirk Cousins is out there and he's a heck of a football player.”

With everyone presuming that the current Washington Redskins quarterback is going to hit free agency at the end of this season, teams and players are beginning to lay out the narrative for why the signal-caller should go to their side. Apart from Thielen, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller has also explicitly expressed his desire to have Cousins on his team.

Keenum and Bradford are set to be free agents this March along with Bridgewater who has an option for 2018. The Vikings will head into the next season hoping to build on a solid 2017 campaign, and having Cousins under center could be the difference between an NFC Championship Game appearance and a spot in the Super Bowl.