Report: Vikings not expected to use franchise tag on Keenum

The Minnesota Vikings are not expected to apply the franchise tag to quarterback Case Keenum, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

The team's decision before the Mar. 6 deadline will allow last year's breakout starter to hit free agency, sources told Rapoport.

Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater are all unsure of their respective futures with the Vikings.

The 30-year-old Keenum was the team's primary starter this past season after being called upon in September when Bradford went down with another knee injury. Keenum started 16 total games, including the NFC Championship game, and had 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions in the regular season.

Bradford and Bridgewater finished the season as Keenum's backups, and all three are set to become free agents when the new league year kicks off Mar. 14.

The Vikings could join other teams starting over at quarterback with free agent Kirk Cousins of the Washington Redskins expected to become available.

Former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt, an NFL.com senior analyst, suggested Monday on Twitter regarding Cousins that "if I were a betting man, I'd say (Minnesota is) where he lands. Certainly interest on both sides."

--Field Level Media