It looks like the Vikings dodged a bullet in the 2021 NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings not giving up valuable assets in the 2021 NFL Draft to pick quarterback Just Fields currently looks like the right choice.

During the NFL Draft earlier this year, some wondered if the Minnesota Vikings were going to signal the end of the Kirk Cousins era by doing whatever they could to select former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.

Despite reports of the Vikings lightly kicking the tires about a potential deal to trade up and draft Fields, the passing prospect wound up getting selected by the Chicago Bears instead.

Minnesota actually ended up trading back in the first round of the draft to eventually pick former Virginia Tech left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

So far, the Minnesota Vikings made the right choice to not draft Justin Fields

Darrisaw just recently made his debut in the Vikings’ starting lineup back in Week 6 and he performed magnificently. If he keeps it up, Minnesota probably won’t have to worry about the left end of their offensive line for a long time.

As for Fields, well, one could say he’s experiencing some rookie growing pains. He’s started five games for the Bears this season and his numbers are far from impressive.

So far this year, Fields has completed 57.3 percent of his passes for 816 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions. His performance this season has resulted in a passer rating of 61.8 and a QBR of 16.7.

There are several things that are getting blamed for Fields’ lack of success this year, including this being his first season in the NFL, Chicago not having the right head coach, and the rookie quarterback not having much to work with in the Bears’ offense.

All of these excuses are valid, but are we going to sit here and say that fellow rookie signal-caller Davis Mills of the Houston Texans has been working with an arsenal of weapons whenever he’s walked onto the field this year? No, we’re not, and Mills, who was drafted in the third round, has a higher passer rating in his five starts this season than Fields.

Part of the reasoning for why the Vikings didn’t trade up in the draft to pick the former Ohio State quarterback was reportedly due to some of their scouts and coaches having a higher grade for Kellen Mond.

Minnesota ended up drafting Mond in the third round and, so far, it’s looking like waiting until the third round to pick a quarterback isn’t something that will come back to haunt the Vikings in the future.