5 prospects who could fall to the Vikings at pick No. 22

Justin Herbert – QB (Oregon)

Justin Herbert is widely regarded as the third-best quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. There’s plenty to like about him. He’s got the size and arm strength that scouts love. He also is extremely accurate with the football.

Herbert will sometimes take chances and throw the ball into tight spots, which can get him into trouble. There are also concerns about his laid back nature and on whether or not he can be a leader of an NFL team.

He seemed to answer that question during this year’s Senior Bowl. But if the Vikings hope to see him at pick No. 22, they’d be wise to start spreading that rumor again.

It’s unclear if Minnesota would even take a quarterback in this year’s draft. They don’t have to as they have Kirk Cousins locked up for another three years and Sean Mannion is the backup.

The Vikings also have a young Jake Browning on the practice squad who has some potential and could take the next step in 2020. It would be wise though for the Vikings to get the heir apparent to Cousins and land a guy who could potentially be their franchise quarterback for the next decade.

For Herbert to get to Minnesota at pick No. 22, a lot of dominoes would have to fall. The Los Angeles Chargers would have to pass on him at pick No. 6. He would have to get by the Jacksonville Jaguars at pick No. 9, as well as the Raiders at pick No. 12.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have to go another way at pick No. 14 and then he’d have to get by the Raiders and the Jaguars again. It’s not impossible, but quarterback is the most important position in all of sports and is valued even higher on draft day.

There is precedent for quarterbacks to fall, but no team wants to be the one who passed on the next Aaron Rodgers. Herbert probably isn’t that, but he should develop into a quality starting NFL quarterback and a lot of teams are in need of one.