6 quarterbacks the Minnesota Vikings could draft in 2023
By Luke Parrish
Bryce Young (Alabama)
The stars of the 2023 class right now are Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. Those two will headline pretty much every mock draft between now and the end of the college football season – and likely beyond that unless they fall off.
Young is the next Alabama prodigy in line for an NFL opportunity after taking the reigns in 2021 and keeping the offense on track. In his first full season as a starter for the Crimson Tide, Young racked up 4,872 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
He’s not a mobile quarterback and versatile runner by any means but Young has excellent mobility and poise in the pocket. Of the recent Alabama quarterbacks to enter the NFL Draft, Young is probably the best overall prospect with the highest ceiling of the bunch.
The argument that Alabama has unfair roster construction has always harmed their reputations as prospects but that is simply not fair. Without diving too far down that rabbit hole, the quarterbacks still have to find a rhythm and work well with their weapons regardless of how talented their group is.
Minnesota is only going to be able to land Bryce Young if they have an awful 2022 season or gather the assets to trade up in next year’s draft to get him. There are some avenues to do this but it would complicate things right now.
For instance, the Vikings could potentially trade back in the first round this spring if a player like Kayvon Thibodeaux falls into their range and pick up an extra first next season. The Buccaneers, Bills, and Chiefs, who all pick at the end of the first round, could look to come up and go all-in for a title run this season.
That would allow Minnesota to trade back into the late 20s, pick up an extra first-round pick in 2023, and plan for a big move next offseason.