The Minnesota Vikings will be linked to quarterback prospects for the rest of the season.
Sitting at 0-3, the Minnesota Vikings are currently near the top of the order for the 2021 NFL Draft. Even with 13 games still to go, there is no reason to expect the Vikings will drift away from quarterback discussions heading into next year’s NFL Draft.
While it is unfair to place all blame on Kirk Cousins for Minnesota’s slow start this season, it is fair to question if he will remain the team’s starting quarterback for the next handful of years. The Vikings extended Cousins prior to the season, but they could quickly regret that decision if they wish to move on from his money.
Whether Minnesota drafts a quarterback or not in 2021, they will likely have a ton of money tied to Cousins over the next few years. If he cannot turn things around, this may be his final season as the starting quarterback for the Vikings and the team has every right to seek a trade for Cousins if they are in a position to draft a young signal-caller.
The 2021 NFL Draft features a handful of promising young quarterbacks at the top of the draft. There are also a couple of sleepers worth monitoring between now and next spring.
So let’s get into some of the top 2021 quarterback prospects who the Vikings should already be keeping an eye on.
Trevor Lawrence (Clemson)
There is no such thing as a layup when discussing draft picks. Too many times, first overall picks flame out before showing an ounce of success at the next level.
However, for the purpose of this article, Trevor Lawrence is the easiest decision in the world. If the Vikings hold the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, that card should be filled out by January.
Lawrence is arguably the best quarterback prospect to come out since Andrew Luck, and it can be argued that he is even better than Luck was at this point in their respective careers. Lawrence has every single tool a team looks for in a quarterback. He possesses a strong arm, a big frame, good feet, and a high football IQ.
In 32 career games for Clemson up to this point, Lawrence has compiled 7,464 passing yards, 70 touchdowns, and only 12 interceptions through the air. He has also added 718 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns with his legs as well. Oh, and Lawrence has only ever lost one game in his collegiate career.
Clemson in 31-1 in games that Lawrence has appeared in, either as a starter or as a backup. His lone loss came in the National Championship against LSU in 2020, while already having a title under his own belt back in 2019.
No matter how you want to cut it, Lawrence is as good of a prospect as you’ll ever find. If you pick first overall, you take a franchise-changing quarterback no matter the circumstances.
Justin Fields (Ohio State)
Trevor Lawrence met Justin Fields in the College Football Playoff last season. The star quarterbacks both gave a glimpse of what to expect at the next level as they are arguably the top two prospects in this class.
Fields, a Georgia transfer, has been sensational during his time at Ohio State. His only loss as a Buckeye came at the hands of Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers in the semifinal last season. Fields, much like Lawrence has the ability to make plays with his arm or with his legs when he needs to make something happen.
In 14 games with Ohio State, Fields has thrown for 3,273 yards and rushed for 484. He threw 41 touchdown passes and scampered in for 10 more on the ground. Most impressively of all, Fields threw just three interceptions last season, two of which came in the final game of the season.
Accuracy is arguably Fields’ greatest flaw as of right now, as his passes tend to sail a bit when he panics. But as he grows and sees more reps, he should be able to work out some of his kinks and develop better mechanics in the pocket. Fields is far from a disappointment if the Vikings miss out on Lawrence in 2021.
Trey Lance (North Dakota State)
The final of the big three, Trey Lance, is no slouch when it comes to NFL prospects. Despite playing at North Dakota State and not being able to participate in most of his 2020 season, Lance is still an incredibly gifted quarterback who fits a similar mold to Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.
Lance is in an interesting spot because he will only have one year of tape to evaluate, that being from his redshirt freshman season in 2019. As a freshman, he threw for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns without throwing a single interception. He added 1,100 yards as a runner and an additional 14 scores. It does not matter what your competition is, 42 touchdowns with zero interceptions is hard to do.
Many fans will say Lance cannot be trusted because of the level of competition and the lack of a 2020 season, but that’s why it is important to trust the film. Lance has a very comfortable arm that can sling the ball anywhere on the field. He is also smart with the ball and he uses his legs to buy himself more time or take off on his own.
Lance and Fields are currently neck and neck for the No. 2 quarterback spot and will be a fun battle to watch up through the draft. If the Vikings pick inside the top five, landing Lance is a win.
Kyle Trask (Florida)
Making a surge into the first-round conversation is Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask. Trask was solid last season as he took over for an injured Feleipe Franks before exploding in his first game of the 2020 season.
Last week against Ole Miss, Trask completed 30 of his 42 pass attempts for 416 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. Coming into the season, I had Trask as a borderline first-round talent to consider late in the first round and he is quickly rising up the board. I have a feeling that NFL teams will be in the same boat.
In 12 games last year, Trask threw for 2,941 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also completed 66.9 percent of his throws, which is an admirable number for a prospect who is still learning and adapting. For reference, Trevor Lawrence has a career completion rate of 66.2 percent.
The first round is well within the realm of possibility for Trask, especially if he continues his hot streak of play this season. The Vikings may be able to land him later in the first, whether they trade up or down to get there or if they win some games this season and slide back in the draft on their own volition.
I am a big fan of Trask and would not mind him being the next quarterback for Minnesota, but he is not quite in the conversation with the other top three guys, at least not yet. We’ll see where this conversation winds up over the next six months.
K.J. Costello (Mississippi State)
The biggest winner of the SEC season so far is Mississippi State gunslinger K.J. Costello. Costello, a transfer from Stanford, was finally able to showcase his arm talent against the defending National Champions in LSU.
Costello followed Air Raid extraordinaire Mike Leach to Mississippi State for one last chance to prove he is an NFL quarterback. Gardner Minshew did the same thing at Washington State and it appears Costello is set up for similar success.
Against LSU last week, Costello threw for 623 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. He completed 36 of his 60 pass attempts for a career-best 10.4 yards per attempt. His 623 yards also set the SEC single-game record, which was previously 544 yards.
He is far from the first round conversation, and I have a hard time seeing him enter that discussion any time soon, but Costello is a name to really keep an eye on. If the Vikings wish to sit tight at quarterback and take their chances on a guy later in the draft, Costello might be their best bet.