Which quarterbacks could the Minnesota Vikings develop into becoming their starter?
As much as some people might not want to hear it, Kirk Cousins will most likely be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings when they take the field for their first game of the 2021 season.
Due to the structure of his current contract, it would be difficult for the Vikings to move on Cousins during the upcoming offseason. Anything is possible, of course, but don’t bet on Minnesota’s veteran quarterback playing somewhere else in 2021.
Despite the high likelihood of Cousins continuing on as the Vikings’ starting signal-caller next season, it doesn’t mean that the team can’t start thinking about his eventual replacement.
Since they don’t need to find someone who can immediately start under center, Minnesota can afford to add a quarterback who might need a year or two to develop before taking over Cousins’ starting role.
With this in mind, there a few 2021 quarterback prospects and current NFL signal-callers that the Vikings could attempt to acquire during the upcoming offseason with the intention to groom them into becoming the team’s future starter. Who are some of these young, developmental quarterbacks Minnesota could try to land in 2021?
Trey Lance (North Dakota State)
Measurements:
- 6-foot-3
- 224 pounds
2019 Stats:
- 66.9 completion percentage, 2,786 yards
- 28 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
- 169 carries, 1,100 yards, 14 touchdowns
Viewed by some as the third or fourth-best quarterback prospect heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, Trey Lance is someone who will likely be connected to the Vikings a bunch during the next few months.
Not only did he play his college ball at a school that is less than 300 miles away from U.S. Bank Stadium, but Lance is also from the state of Minnesota. He fits the mold of the modern pro quarterback and sitting him for a season or two behind Cousins could be a tremendous help for him during his adjustment to the speed of the NFL.
Kyle Trask (Florida)
Measurements:
- 6-foot-5
- 239 pounds
2020 Stats:
- 69.7 completion percentage, 4,125 yards
- 43 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
- 61 carries, 50 yards, 3 touchdowns
The nation’s current leader in passing yards and touchdowns, Kyle Trask is having himself a monster season for Florida.
As good as he has been this season, Trask could still use some time on the sidelines to improve his mechanics before he takes the field as a starter in the NFL. He isn’t a quarterback who is going to wow anyone with his athleticism, but his abilities to make quick decisions and not stare down his receivers are things that should help him succeed at the pro level.
Mac Jones (Alabama)
Measurements:
- 6-foot-2
- 205 pounds
2020 Stats:
- 76.5 completion percentage, 3,739 yards
- 32 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
In his first full season as Alabama’s starting quarterback, Mac Jones has responded well to his increased responsibilities.
Jones isn’t a huge guy by any means and he’s not going to be making many plays with his legs in the NFL. But his accuracy, his decision-making, and his lack of turnovers are three things that should help him be successful as a pro.
Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati)
Measurements:
- 6-foot-4
- 215 pounds
2020 Stats:
- 66.4 completion percentage, 2,090 yards
- 17 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
- 83 carries, 609 yards, 12 touchdowns
If there is someone from the 2021 draft class that people might look back and wonder how they remained on the board for so long, Desmond Ridder could be that guy.
Ridder has huge potential with his impressive rushing skills and an arm that can get the ball downfield to his receivers. A year or two on the bench could do wonders for his career in the NFL.
Sam Darnold (New York Jets)
Measurements:
- 6-foot-3
- 225 pounds
2020 Stats:
- 59.7 completion percentage, 1,767 yards
- 6 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
- 29 carries, 194 yards, 2 touchdowns
Even with their recent win, the Jets are still expected to land one of the top two picks in the 2021 NFL Draft and use that selection on a new quarterback. If this happens, New York will be looking to move on from Sam Darnold.
While his career in the league certainly hasn’t gone as planned, there is still plenty of potential left for the 23-year-old Darnold. A change of scenery might just be what he needs to develop into the franchise quarterback many felt he could be when first entered the NFL in 2018.
The Vikings might have to give up a valuable draft pick or two to acquire Darnold from the Jets. But if Minnesota believes he can be their quarterback of the future, then they should pull the trigger as long as New York’s asking price isn’t outrageous.
Chris Streveler (Arizona Cardinals)
Measurements:
- 6-foot-3
- 215 pounds
2019 Stats (in the CFL):
- 64.7 completion percentage, 1,564 yards
- 8 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
- 127 carries, 726 yards, 12 touchdowns
A number of Vikings fans should be familiar with Chris Streveler since he began his college career at the University of Minnesota before transferring to South Dakota.
After College, Streveler went on to play in the CFL for a pair of seasons and he made a significant amount of impressive plays. Now with the Cardinals, he’s hoping to get a shot as a starter in the NFL.
When looking at his film, the Taysom Hill comparisons are unavoidable. But Streveler might be a better passer than Hill. His skills as a ball carrier though are very comparable to someone like Hill.
6 current Vikings who might not be on the roster in 2021
Which current members of the Minnesota Vikings roster might not be around when the team returns to the field for the first time in 2021?
Streveler is under contract with Arizona until 2023, so the Vikings would have to trade for him in order to acquire him. The assets Minnesota would have to give up in a deal for him would be minimal though compared to what they would likely have to part with to land Sam Darnold in a trade.