Four 2020 draft prospects for the Vikings to watch in Week 8
By Luke Parrish
Joe Burrow – QB (LSU)
at Mississippi State
When: Saturday, October 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS
TV: CBS
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has been inconsistent, to say the least, during his tenure with the team. If Minnesota decides to move on once his contract is up at the end of the 2020 NFL season, they will need a young quarterback to groom and take over for the future.
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow has quickly become my favorite quarterback in the 2020 class. Burrow, an Ohio State transfer, is in his second season as the Tigers’ signal-caller.
He has led his team to a dominant start in their 2019 campaign and he’s helped LSU climb up to No. 2 in the AP Poll. His NFL stock is skyrocketing as the Tigers finally have a good quarterback.
Burrow carried LSU to a big home win over the Florida Gators last weekend. in six games this season, he has completed 79.6 percent of his passes and thrown for 25 touchdowns.
Burrow has improved his vision as a passer and he’s shown that he can put some zip on the ball. Coming into the season, I had a preliminary Day 3 draft grade on him, but he has apparently worked on his weaknesses. His sudden grasp of the offense and confidence as a passer have him in my updated top-20.
Now, Burrow must travel to Starkville and take on a desperate Mississippi State team, who are coming off a disappointing loss to Tennessee last weekend.
The young quarterback and LSU cannot afford to look ahead to next week’s matchup with Auburn. LSU has a tough stretch ahead, but they must focus on the task at hand.
Prediction
Burrow is going to go into Starkville and continue to roll his opponent as he’s done all year long. His name is rising at an astronomical rate right now and he projects to now be a first-round pick.
Before he squares off with back-to-back dominant SEC defenses, Burrow can have a relaxing day at the mercy of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. His final line should read include more than 300 passing yards, four touchdowns, and a big win for the Tigers.
The Vikings need to keep an eye on Burrow before the 2020 draft. However, his rise may place him in the top-five and well out of Minnesota’s reach.
Who knows, maybe Burrow is even good in practice.