I’m not really familiar with this whole “manifesting” thing. I don’t know anything about the “law of attraction” or any new-age spirituality. I don’t know how to send my energy into the universe to will something into existence.
But if it means Drake Maye becomes Minnesota’s new quarterback, I’m willing to try just about anything.
The Vikings are taking a massive leap of faith, risking overturning the entire organization if things don’t go their way at the quarterback position. With Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, the Vikings have stepped boldly out of their comfort zone into the realm of uncertainty and variability. Without Kirk, this team feels like they’re skydiving without a parachute.
But that’s also really thrilling. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has wheeled and dealed, acquiring all the necessary ammunition. Outside of those teams picking in the top three, no organization is better suited to move up and get their guy than the Vikings.
In an interview with voice of the Vikings Paul Allen on KFAN last week, Allen directly asked Kwesi if there was a “preferred scenario” amidst all the possible permutations on draft day, to which he responded fairly candidly. “I would say at this point there is a preferred scenario,” Adofo-Mensah said, “but the process is ongoing.”
It’s clear the trade for the Houston Texans’ pick, No. 23, was just setting the stage for draft night. There’s a plan here, and as Kwesi admitted, he had a “preferred scenario.”
The question is: Who’s their guy in this “preferred scenario”? Will the board break in a way that makes getting him possible?
I have no insider sources. Like the rest of you, I’m reading tea leaves and connecting dots. But I’m choosing to confirm my bias and focus on the dots leading to Drake Maye being the Vikings quarterback.
Why? Because he’s awesome.
Somehow, we’ve reached the point we reach seemingly every draft season: We decide to overthink, nitpick, and become contrarians on a player that consensus has been high on long before the combine. I think about the way people overreacted to C.J. Stroud’s “S2 Test,” and pre-draft smokescreens led us to believe Stroud’s stock was falling. This time around, the draft industrial complex turned on Maye.
The UNC quarterback ended the season perceived as the undisputed consensus QB2, closer to Caleb Williams than the next closest contender. Now, the recent scuttlebutt is that there’s a real chance he could be the third or fourth quarterback off the board. And I’ve got no reasonable explanation other than Adofo-Mensah manipulating the universe to make his dreams come true.
Because Maye would be so damn fun in this offense.
He has undeniable arm talent and the ability to throw to all levels of the field. May is fearless, sometimes to a fault, but bold enough to pull the trigger on throws deep downfield or into tight windows. The play is never truly dead with Maye at the wheel because he produces outside structure. He’s got excellent mobility and does a solid job keeping his eyes downfield when improvising.
Maye has all the tools in the world; it’s just how he’ll put them together. It’s worth noting that May is still young in a class with super seniors like Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix. Despite two full years as a high-level starter, he’s still only 21, with his best football ahead of him. Even accounting for his inconsistencies, the Vikings can still mold him.
I’ll acknowledge the detractions from his game. May’s footwork is inconsistent, especially under pressure, which leads to inaccuracy. He’s also developed a bad habit of bailing out of the pocket too quickly, the result of playing behind a poor offensive line. He’s also got that hero ball gene, which resulted in 16 career interceptions over his two seasons as a starter.
But here’s the thing about hero ball: It’s usually really nice to have a superhero at quarterback!
Some guys get into trouble with this playing style because they simply don’t have “it.” Some guys are really Bruce Wayne but try to play like they’re Batman. The Vikings saw that first-hand with Nick Mullens, who constantly pressed to make wild hero plays beyond his capabilities.
Maye can be Batman. But after losing his offensive coordinator and several offensive studs from his 2022 team around him, he felt like he had to do and be everything for UNC to succeed. Rather than being Batman, Maye convinced himself he needed to play like Superman. I’ll admit that’s where he got himself into trouble and where he’d potentially bust at the NFL level.
As much as I love Maye, I’d be nervous about his chances to succeed in a place like Washington or New England, where he’s devoid of exciting talent around him to foster his growth while he strives to live up to his immense potential. Because if he can reach that potential, the sky’s the limit for this guy. If a quality coaching staff can teach Maye to be Batman, a superhero who understands how to use his tools to the best of his ability and also understands his limitations, then Maye could be truly special.
Minnesota’s best asset is its downfield playmakers, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. But the Vikings’ second-best asset is their two stalwart pass protectors at tackle, Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. This offense is built to stretch defenses and make big plays. It just needs a gunslinger capable of making those throws and making the plays outside of structure when the situation calls for it. Maye’s can be that difference maker.
After a season of fighting crime alone, Batman can play alongside his own Justice League.
There are many ways this draft can unfold. All the assets in the world can’t force the New England Patriots or Arizona Cardinals to take your offer, and the Denver Broncos or Las Vegas Raiders could make a move even more desperate than Adofo-Mensah is willing to make. But if Maye is available, and the team on the clock is willing to pick up the phone and listen, Minnesota must make it happen. It’s clear to me that the infrastructure to develop Maye into a superstar is in place here.
Drake Maye should be Adofo-Mensah’s “preferred scenario” — he’s certainly mine.
