Carson Strong (Nevada)
A realistic option to land in Minnesota as the future of the franchise is Nevada’s Carson Strong. Strong has all of the tools to be a starting quarterback in the NFL with plenty of size, strength, and mobility.
I would argue that Strong is the best pure pocket passer in this class and his arm strength is exactly what teams will latch onto throughout the draft process. He finds a ton of success down the field and has taken his fair share of deep shots during his time at Nevada. Defenses respect his big arm but he still finds a way to beat them over the top.
Minnesota has had a lot of deep shots that result in scores. Using the run game to set up the play-action and other deep passing opportunities is the bread and butter of this offense. A guy like Carson Strong could be the perfect replacement for Kirk Cousins if they want to continue that trend.
Carson Strong is capable of starting as a rookie but could also benefit from sitting a year. Surrounding him with playmakers like Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn is definitely something to look forward to. Adding another wide receiver to the mix in the draft has to be in the plans moving forward as well, especially given Thielen’s age.
If Minnesota wants to take the safe bet and use a high draft pick on a quarterback, Strong is the perfect candidate. He will keep the offense in a similar style while providing a cheap salary and a huge arm. That’s a good deal for the Vikings.