The Minnesota Vikings will have the 11th and 23rd pick at this year’s NFL draft, giving them a great chance to land a new Quarterback to replace Kirk Cousins. Kirk Cousins was picked up in free agency for the Atlanta Falcons on a 4 year, $180 million deal. With this being so far outside the Vikings asking price, they decided to move on.
Today I will profile the top quarterback options in this year’s draft in conjunction with quotes on what several University of Minnesota students think about them potentially being the Vikings next quarterback.
Caleb Williams:
Williams entered the draft as the clear number one pick. After winning the Heisman Trophy his sophomore year at USC he came back as solid and consistent. The effective pocket passer will explode if given the right offensive pieces and Chicago seems to have them at the number 1 pick. His ability to escape pressure sets him above and his want to be the best is shown day in and day out. Caleb is also known for the deep pass and will have many chances at this in the coming years. According to Khoi Nguyen at the University of Minnesota, “Williams is by far the best QB in the draft and it seems impossible for the Vikings to trade up to #1”.
Jayden Daniels:
Daniels won the Heisman Trophy last season at LSU and is an established player with 5 years of college experience. He is known for his ability to make big plays as he moves around the pocket but can be seen as injury prone until he puts on a few pounds. Finally, his ability to run outside of the pocket will give him the upper hand in the NFL. However, according to Alex Haddad “Jayden Daniels offers flashes of what Micheal Vick was able to do in the league, but offers a high risk when it comes to putting together a full career. For him the landing spot is everything and I think the Vikings would be a great spot”.
Drake Maye:
Maye was a proven leader during his time at UNC and has the build of a great NFL quarterback. His arm talent is above others and he has the toughness to get a few extra needed yards when the time comes. He also is known for his clutch gene, however, he has had times when interceptions have become a problem. If he can keep the turnovers down, he can be a very consistent quarterback. According to Alex Haddad, “If the Vikings were to trade into the top 3, I think their target is Drake Maye. Our newly hired QB coach worked with Drake Maye in high school and knows what needs to be done for him to make strides to the next level”.
J.J. McCarthy:
A 5 star recruit out of high school, McCarthy has proven that he belongs in the NFL. In a run dependent offense at Michigan it is tough to see all the potential that he really has at the next level. However, he has already worked in a pro style offense with a great coach in Jim Harbaugh. He is also a tough quarterback and is great in scramble moments although he lacks the ability to run. According to Thomas Luzum, “J.J. would be a great fit for the Vikings as we already have all the pieces set for him. However, I can see the moment being too big for him in the pros”.
In conclusion, there are many viable options at quarterback in this year’s draft for the Vikings. However, most feel that a year of Sam Darnold is coming for one of these younger guys to learn from. Finally, many will watch this year’s draft as the future faces of the NFL will be present.
