4 luxury prospects the Vikings could pick in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Dean Jones
Mac Jones – QB (Alabama)
The Vikings have a firm No. 1 quarterback for the 2021 season in place with Kirk Cousins, who was superb after the bye week last year, which helped the team almost turn things around to get back into the postseason.
However, if the San Francisco 49ers do not take Mac Jones at No. 3 overall, then there a chance the Alabama star falls out of the top-10 entirely.
This could see the Vikings get an unlikely shot at taking Jones, which would be a controversial move considering how many good offensive tackles and edge rushers could also be available at No. 14.
But with Cousins only having two years remaining on his deal, Minnesota might not get a better chance of finding a long-term successor who’ll get time to adjust and learn behind an experienced veteran.
Jones is one of the most polarizing figures in the draft this year. He is coming off an incredible season with the Crimson Tide in 2020 that saw him throw for 4,500 yards, 44 touchdowns, just four interceptions, and complete 77.4 percent of his passes on his way to another convincing national championship triumph for Nick Saban’s men.
These sorts of numbers turned Joe Burrow from a mid-round afterthought to the consensus No. 1 overall selection in 2019. So what is the problem with Jones?
Some analysts are knocking his lack of mobility and arm strength, two things that are all the rage in today’s NFL. While that might take him out of the running to be selected with one of the top three or four picks, the Vikings would have a big decision to make if he fell to them.