2016 NFL Draft Profile: Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State

North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz will likely be the top passer selected at the 2016 NFL Draft, but should the Minnesota Vikings look into him?

It’s always amazing to watch small school prospects like North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz attempt to be evaluated. Judging by his skill set and physical ability, Wentz looks like he should be in contention for being the #1 overall selection at the 2016 NFL Draft, however the level of competition he played against in college has some experts tempering their expectations.

At first glance, Wentz looks like an NFL Quarterback. He’s tall, athletic, strong, and accurate. On paper he checks every box that teams should have when looking for a quarterback at the professional level. When you add in the fact that he can both sit in the pocket to pick apart defenses or be a threat to pick up a first down with his feet, he becomes an even more valued prospect.

There are still things he will need to work on at the NFL level. For example, he needs to be able to look off defenders and not stare down his primary targets. Also, he might take more risks with the football than teams might like, often forcing the ball to his favorite targets even if they aren’t quite open.

Here are North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz’s numbers from the events at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine according to NFL.com:

Feb 27, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Dakota State Bisons quarterback Carson Wentz throws a pass during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 237 pounds

Arm Length: 33 1/4″

Hand Size: 10″

40 Yard Dash: 4.77 seconds

Bench Press: N/A

Vertical Jump: 30.5″

Broad Jump: 118″

3 Cone Drill: 6.86 seconds

20 Yard Shuttle: N/A

Carson Wentz compares to:

CBS Sports: Alex Smith, Chiefs
NFL.com: Blake Bortles, Jaguars

Fit for the Minnesota Vikings:

The Vikings already have a signal caller that they will be happy to start for the next several years in Teddy Bridgewater, but could always use depth and competition at the position, as finding a long-term answer at quarterback is sometimes more of a quantity game than quality.

Next: 5 moves the Vikings should have made in free agency

My Take:

I’m still in the camp that believes too much in Teddy Bridgewater to want the Vikings to move all the way up to the top two picks in the 2016 NFL Draft to select Carson Wentz. While I do think that Wentz will be successful at the professional level, there are too many teams that are desperate for a quarterback and the bidding war for the #1 overall selection could reach astronomical levels. Minnesota won’t get a crack at Wentz and even if they did, it wouldn’t be the wisest use of a first round selection at this point for the franchise.

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