The Minnesota Vikings have a plethora of draft picks as the 2020 NFL Draft inches closer and closer.
The question that lingers is this: should they use any of those choices on a quarterback?
The team did extend Kirk Cousins this offseason and re-signed their backup quarterback Sean Mannion. They also have Jake Browning, who is entering his second season after spending last year on the practice squad. A quick gander over the depth chart would make one think they are set at the position. However, the team shouldn’t rule out taking a quarterback.
At the same time, they shouldn’t actively seek one out as they have plenty of holes to fill on their roster. The Vikings would be wise to see what falls to them at their picks and if the best player on the board happens to be a quarterback they shouldn’t be shy about pulling the trigger.
Here are some quarterbacks the Vikings could consider and at what point of the draft they should come off the board:
ROUND 1 – Jordan Love, Utah State
Love is an interesting prospect. He’s got the size teams love at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. He has a strong arm and has plenty of mobility to create extra time in the pocket or scramble for extra yardage. Some scouts like to call him a poor man’s Patrick Mahomes and that is actually pretty high praise.
Love does need some work. His decision making is sometimes very questionable as he makes risky throws far too often. Still, there are plenty of physical tools to work with here, and he could develop into a star.
After the combine, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Love. He threw the ball in workouts with plenty of zip, and also was spot on in his placement. There was some talk he potentially worked his way into the top-10 choices. That has cooled off a bit, and there is a chance the Vikings could see him on the board at pick 22. If he’s there, they have to think long and hard about taking him.
He could learn behind Cousins for a season or two and then take over the reins in Year 3. The team definitely has bigger needs like cornerback or wide receiver, but if Love does reach his potential and becomes a star in the league, the Vikings will be kicking themselves for passing on a franchise quarterback for a cornerback.
Round 2 – Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
Round 2 could be the perfect time for the Vikings to grab a young quarterback.
They can use their two first-round picks to address their biggest needs like cornerback and wide receiver, and could then afford to use their second-round choice on a potential franchise-caliber quarterback. The guy who could be there and has a ton of upside is Hurts.
Hurts has all the physical tools a team would ever want. He’s got the size, arm strength and athletic ability to create extra time in the pocket or pick up yards on the ground. He wowed at the Combine in interviews and impressed on the field with his arm strength and accuracy. He does need to work on going through his progressions, but that will come in time, and time is something the Vikings could afford to give him with Cousins already on the roster.
The best part about Hurts is that this kid is a winner. He has won wherever he goes and is a gamer who his teammates gravitate to and rally around. Hurts plays with a ton of heart, and has the ability to will his team back into a game. He does come with some risk, but with the number of picks the Vikings have, the upside is well worth it.
round 3 – Jake Fromm, Georgia
The Vikings probably wouldn’t be looking at this guy if it wasn’t for the additional third-round pick they scored from the NFL’s compensatory system. Fromm is kind of like a Cousins-lite. He doesn’t have Cousins arm strength, but is a natural leader on the field, and is a smart player with a very high football IQ. His decision making is extremely solid, as he rarely puts the ball in a bad spot. He definitely lacks the physical traits of the other quarterbacks on this list but is probably the readiest to see the field just from a technical standpoint.
The Vikings could take Fromm and develop him behind Cousins for a few seasons. He’s so smart and pro-ready that he could surpass Mannion on the depth chart as the backup quarterback as a rookie. Fromm’s doesn’t have the potential of Hurts or Love, but his floor is higher, as the worst-case for him is that he becomes a solid backup. He probably won’t ever become a star in the league, but he’s a guy who could be a reliable starter down the road, and well worth a late third-round investment.
Day 3 – Tyler Huntley, Utah
The Vikings currently have six picks on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. They could very well use one of them on a developmental quarterback. If they do, one exciting player they could take would be Huntley.
Huntley is the complete opposite of Cousins. He’s a zone-read quarterback who can be very dangerous running the football. He has plenty of arm strength and isn’t afraid to sling the ball down the field. He does, however, lock onto his primary target and rarely looks to his second or third option.
Huntley needs a lot of work, but as a late choice, the Vikings can spend time developing him as they roll with Cousins the next few seasons.
Huntley would provide a spark off the bench and teams would have a tough time adjusting to his style of play after first playing against Cousins. Huntley could go anywhere from Round 5 to undrafted, and at that point in the draft, the Vikings will be looking for high-upside depth pieces. Huntley is definitely that and could be much more if he is developed and groomed properly.
