Vikings: Kellen Mond claimed by the one true quarterback graveyard

The Cleveland Browns — formerly known as the place quarterbacks go to die — has claimed former Vikings signal-caller Kellen Mond.

Cleveland needs quarterback depth, so Mond makes a lot of sense as an emergency option.

While the Texas A&M product was a target to eventually end up back on Minnesota’s practice squad, the Vikings ran the risk of losing him to another team when they cut him. Evidently, they were comfortable enough with that risk.

Mond will not receive any first-team reps. He’s behind both Jacoby Brissett and Josh Dobbs on the Browns depth chart. Once Deshaun Watson comes back from his 11-game suspension, Mond might be forced to hit the road, as well.

The third-round pick in 2021 was all but officially released when the Vikings traded for Nick Mullens to back up Kirk Cousins. Suddenly, there was no place for Mond on the roster. Now, he has a new home entirely.

Browns claim Kellen Mond from Vikings

Mond got a fresh start from new head coach Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota. However, he couldn’t prove himself in limited time.

Mike Zimmer, the former head coach of the Vikings, placed Mond firmly in his doghouse up until the day he was fired. Mond commented on this last offseason.

“He’s never really talked to me personally, so I didn’t really take too much offense to it,” said Mond, after Zimmer’s firing. “He kind of backtracked on his word a little bit after. But it’s all fun and games, whatever. It’s a new year, new coaches, new team. I’m a year older, second year in the NFL.”

Mond never really had a head coach who believed in him, and that stunted his development in Minnesota. Whether he can come back from that remains to be seen, but he’ll get a chance on the practice squad in Cleveland for now.