The Minnesota Vikings could use a quarterback for the future as well as a backup. Here are six they could choose in this year’s draft.
The Minnesota Vikings are currently rolling without a backup quarterback. They do have Nate Stanley and Jake Browning marinating on the practice squad, but the jury is out on whether or not either can develop into someone who can push to be the starter when Kirk Cousins leaves. While the team resigning Sean Mannion is a distinct possibility, they have yet to do so and could turn to the draft to find their backup.
The Vikings likely won’t use their first-round pick on a quarterback for a couple of different reasons. The first is that Mike Zimmer needs to win this year and can’t afford to not get instant production from their first choice. If the Vikings have another losing season, he likely won’t be around to see this young signal-caller’s development.
Another reason why the Vikings likely won’t be taking a quarterback in round 1, is because there won’t be any left. There are numerous teams picking ahead of the Vikings that all need quarterbacks. By the time the Vikings are on the clock, there simply won’t be anyone worth taking.
That being said, the team has ten picks and can definitely use one of the later ones to bring in a young quarterback who they can groom to be the starter. Here are six quarterbacks the team could draft this year.
Mac Jones (Alabama)
Measurements
- Height: 6 foot 2 | Weight: 214 pounds
2020 Stats
- 4,500 passing yards
- 41 touchdowns
- 4 interceptions
The chances of one of the top quarterbacks falling to the Minnesota Vikings is slim, but if one does it is probably going to be Alabama’s, Mac Jones. While there is plenty of smoke going around that suggests the 49ers moved up to pick 3 to take him, he could just as easily slide down the board.
Jones is an interesting prospect. From a comparison standpoint, he’s very similar to Vikings’ current starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins. He isn’t very mobile but is extremely intelligent and throws an accurate and very catchable football.
There are some concerns about Jones besides his limited athletic ability. The major one is that it’s fair to wonder how good this guy actually is. Jones was surrounded by an embarrassment of talent at Alabama. He had weapons like Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle to throw to and he could hand the ball off to arguably the best back in the draft in Najee Harris. So it isn’t out of line to ask if Jones was only good because of the talent around him or if his talent was on par with the skill players he was on the field with.
Another concern with Jones is that he’s in poor physical shape. Jones has a pudgy frame and appears he has never once set foot in a weight room. While the guy can do whatever he wants with his body, the fact he doesn’t have the commitment or drive to keep his body in peak form is a bit concerning.
Jones may not be on the board when the Minnesota Vikings are on the clock but if he is, he’d be an easy transition from the Kirk Cousins era for the existing players and coaching regime.
Kyle Trask (Florida)
Measurements
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 240 pounds
2020 Stats
- 4,283 passing yards
- 43 touchdowns
- 8 interceptions
The Vikings have six picks in rounds three and four and could definitely look to use one of those on a young quarterback they deem has the skill set to groom into a future starter. Kyle Trask could be that guy and he’s had an impressive run in his time with the Florida Gators. Trask is coming off an ultra-productive season where he threw for nearly 4300 yards and 43 touchdowns.
The most impressive thing about Trask is his big old body. Trask is 6’5 and is pushing 250 pounds. He can take a beating which is a good trait to have if you are playing behind a Minnesota Vikings’ offensive line. Trask isn’t afraid to put the ball into tight spaces and throws with above-average accuracy.
Despite his big size, Trask doesn’t have a rocket arm. He also isn’t going to be a dual-threat as a runner but can create extra time in the pocket if need be. Trask also needs to process what he sees from a defense a little quicker but that can be taught and coached up.
Kyle Trask is a bit of a polarizing prospect as he’s looked great at times but also had moments where he has struggled badly. That being said, he still provides great value in the mid-rounds and if taken by the Vikings, would be the most talented backup they’ve had on the roster in years.
Kellen Mond (Texas A&M)
Measurements
Height: 6 foot 3 | Weight: 217 pounds
2020 Stats
- 2,282 passing yards
- 19 touchdowns
- 3 interceptions
Kellen Mond seems to be a player who is generating a lot of buzz amongst Vikings’ fans. There’s good reason for that as he’s got an absolute bazooka of a right arm. Mond can definitely sling the football and while that can get him into trouble sometimes, it’ll also get scouts excited as they’ll realize there isn’t an NFL throw this guy can’t make.
Mond has been starting for the Aggies since he was a freshman, which is a true feat in itself. He’s logged 44 career starts at Texas A&M and is very well seasoned against some of the best college football has to offer. This will speed along his development in the NFL and get him ready to challenge for playing time a lot sooner than some other quarterbacks who will be taken around him.
Mond isn’t a Lamar Jackson when it comes to scrambling, but he has rushed for over 1600 yards in his career and scored 22 touchdowns. This versatility would be a very welcome sight to Vikings’ fans who would love to have a quarterback who can at least make opposing defenses worry that he could take off and pick up a first down, or scramble for a score in the red zone.
Mond has experience, mobility, and a rocket arm, which makes him a very attractive option on day two or early day three of the draft. He’d give the Minnesota Vikings something they haven’t had in a long time on the roster, a young quarterback with the potential to be a starter down the road.
Davis Mills (Stanford)
Measurements
Height: 6 foot 4 | Weight: 225 pounds
2020 Stats
- 1,508 passing yards
- 7 touchdowns
- 3 interceptions
Mills is flying under the radar a bit especially in Vikings’ circles. When talking about mid-round quarterback prospects, a lot of fans and those in the media focus on Kellen Mond, Kyle Trask, and even Jamie Newman. Mills deserves to be mentioned in that breath and has the potential to be the best of them all.
He has great size at 6’4 and 225 pounds and that big frame will come in handy if he ends up with a team that has a leaky front line. He also senses pressure well in the pocket and knows when to get rid of the football. Mills’ ball placement is a thing of beauty as he leads his receivers to open areas and can drop the ball on the back shoulder with ease.
While there’s plenty to like about Davis Mills there are some pretty hefty concerns. The first is his lack of overall experience. Mills has started just 11 games in his college career. While there is still plenty of upside to him, most teams would like a little bigger pool of games to project how his skills will transfer to the NFL. He also doesn’t have the strongest arm. It’s good enough, but he’s not a guy who will be tossing the ball sixty yards down the field consistently.
Davis Mills has plenty of tools that the Minnesota Vikings can work with. If he’s still on the board in the late fourth round or early fifth, he’d be worth a draft pick and could learn from Kirk Cousins as he backs him up for the next couple of seasons.
Jamie Newman (Georgia)
Measurements
Height: 6 foot 4 | Weight: 230 pounds
2020 Stats
- No Stats
Jamie Newman is an interesting quarterback prospect who should come off the board sometime on the draft’s third day. Newman has great size, a strong arm, and can also gain yards with his legs, as Wake Forest called a handful of plays where Newman was the primary runner.
As stated above, Newman’s arm is plenty strong, though he doesn’t always put the right amount of touch on his passes. He also doesn’t consistently connect on the deep ball which is a little concerning. Newman also doesn’t possess the best footwork or overall mechanics and needs to spend time getting that down before he sees any meaningful snaps at the next level.
Another concern is that Newman sat out the entire 2020 season after transferring to Georgia and hasn’t played a game since 2019. This rust was evident in the Senior Bowl game as Newman struggled with fundamentals and had problems getting the snap from under center, or cleanly handing the ball off to backs.
Despite these areas of concern, Newman has a ton of upside and loves to compete. His ability to run with the football would be a great new wrinkle in the Minnesota Vikings offense and would also provide a spark off the bench.
Ian Book (Notre Dame)
Measurements
Height: 6 foot | Weight: 206 pounds
2020 Stats
- 2,830 passing yards
- 15 touchdowns
- 3 interceptions
If the Vikings again do what they’ve done in recent drafts and wait until the end or even after the draft to bring in a quarterback, Notre Dame’s Ian Book could give them the most bang for their buck. This passer isn’t going to wow anyone with his frame, as he’s just 6’0 and 206 pounds. His mechanics are a mess as well, and his accuracy is far from sniper-like.
What Book does bring to the table and what will make him attractive for a team looking for a developmental backup, is his scrambling ability. Book excels when a play breaks down. He’s a Houdini in the pocket and can avoid pressure, and has a knack for finding an open man after running for his life.
While he’s got issues, Book has been productive in his four seasons for the Fighting Irish. He’s thrown for just under 9000 yards and has tossed 72 touchdowns to 20 interceptions. Book likely will never develop into a solid starter in the league, but he can be an effective weapon coming off the bench as his scrambling ability will be tough for defenses to adjust to during a game.
5 needs the Vikings could double-dip at during the 2021 NFL Draft
When it comes time for the 2021 NFL Draft, which position groups might the Minnesota Vikings end up double-dipping at to improve their roster?
He could end up having a lengthy career as a journeyman backup and maybe the first steps will be with the Minnesota Vikings.