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An NFL draft professional suggested the Vikings to maneuver up and draft a quarterback on this yr’s draft.
The Minnesota Vikings discover themselves at present with the No. 14 total choose within the 2021 NFL Draft scheduled for April.
Whereas mock draft season can create hypothesis of which gamers may fall to the center of the primary spherical, one draft professional sees the 14th choose as a possibility for the Vikings to plan for the longer term and commerce as much as No. 10 to take a quarterback.
“I believe they’ve obtained to have a look at a quarterback,” Draftcountdown.com’s Scott Wright told the Pioneer Press’ Charley Walters. “I believe you take a look at what the Chiefs did once they drafted Patrick Mahomes. That they had Alex Smith, a very good veteran quarterback, however they used the tenth choose on Mahomes — they traded as much as do it, gave up fairly a bit — and let him sit for a yr.”
The Kansas City Chiefs gambled on Mahomes, a projected second-round pick, at tenth total in 2017 by buying and selling their first-round choose (No. 27), a third-rounder and their 2018 first-rounder on the time {that a} 32-year-old Alex Smith with quarterback of the staff.
NFL.com graded the move a B-plus, citing a “danger issue” for Mahomes freewheeling willingness to make throw the ball from any angle — a danger that has already paid dividends for Kansas Metropolis.
Who may are available and be the “Mahomes” to 32-year-old Kirk Cousins?
“The man I believe that matches excellent for the Vikings in that regard is Trey Lance,” Wright added.
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Lance’s Minnesota Roots
Tim Sanger/NDSU AthleticsThe Vikings may very well be ready to draft NDSU quarterback Trey Lance subsequent offseason.
Lance, a Marshall, Minn., native climbed draft boards after incomes the NCAA’s Division I Championship Sport Most Excellent Participant award after main the Bison to an undefeated season and FCS nationwide championship as a redshirt freshman.
The 6-foot-3, dual-threat QB accomplished 192 of 287 (66.9 %) for two,786 yards, 28 TDs and 0 interceptions and in addition took 169 carries for 1,100 yards (6.5 common) and 14 TDs. Lance has been deemed a good fit for Minnesota’s zone working, play-action offense, given his capacity athleticism that may very well be used to create outdoors of the pocket.
Lance performed one recreation this season earlier than opting out as a result of COVID-19. He confirmed some inexperience, throwing the primary choose of his younger profession in the one recreation he performed this season in a de-facto audition for the draft, however led the Bison to a 39-28 comeback victory over Central Arkansas, totaling 5 touchdowns within the win. Lance lacking his sophomore yr is a powerful sufficient case to stash him for a number of seasons because the 20-year-old quarterback continues to be within the infancy of his profession.
“It might be an awesome scenario for each participant and staff as a result of Lance wants some growth,” Wright mentioned. “He may sit and be taught for some time. I believe that might be the best dream state of affairs. To me, that must be the precedence. There’s going to be three, 4 first-round quarterbacks in all probability within the high half of the primary spherical.”
Lance can be represented by the identical expertise company as rookie Justin Jefferson.
Vikings’ Destiny With Cousins Might be Sealed Quickly
Cousins is already assured his 2021 wage and can see the ultimate assured $35 million of his deal secured on March 20 if he stays on the roster. That’s seemingly the plan as Minnesota has but to spend any worthwhile draft belongings on an appropriate alternative.
Getting a alternative within the buidling must be a precedence, however it could additionally tank the Vikings’ probabilities at making a deep playoff run within the subsequent two years. It’ll seemingly value Minnesota their No. 14 total choose, a future first-rounder and a second- or third-round choose, Wright mentioned.
The Vikings at present don’t have any second-round picks and a pair of third-rounders that may seemingly be wanted to bolster both the offensive line or defensive position.
Is Minnesota ready to make one other run, or will it defer its future to the event of a rookie quarterback by buying and selling up? The Vikings’ determination on draft day shall be telling of how the group views each Cousins and Zimmer’s capacity to reshape his protection.
Lance has fallen to No. 15 in some mock drafts, however the probability to draft a franchise quarterback is priceless and can seemingly warrant buying and selling up, leaving two years of growth earlier than the Vikings would want to maneuver on from Cousins.
That point may be spent growing the protection and liberating up cap house to signal veteran gamers when it’s Lance’s time to start out.
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Trevor Squire is a Heavy contributor overlaying the Minnesota Vikings and journalism graduate from the College of Minnesota — Twin Cities. Join with him on Twitter @trevordsquire and be a part of our Vikings group at Heavy on Vikings on Fb.
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