The Minnesota Vikings fanbase is getting tortured by mock drafts, as there are multiple that have the team drafting quarterback Kirk Cousins’ replacement.
The Minnesota Vikings have been the subject of quarterback rumors. They were linked to Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as “wild card” candidates, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Besides that, a recent mock draft had the Vikings drafting Kirk Cousins’ replacement.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah had the Vikings using their 23rd overall pick on Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker who is 25-years-old. Jeremiah noted that the Vikings “have been doing their homework on this quarterback class.”
One day later, The Athletic published their “Beat Writer Mock Draft” (subscription required), Alec Lewis had the Vikings trading all the way up to the No. 7 spot in a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. The trade was made so Minnesota could select Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.
The Athletic mocks Vikings trading up for Kentucky QB Will Levis
“The Vikings’ future at quarterback is in question,” writes Lewis. “Kirk Cousins remains under contract through 2023. The team has yet to extend him. Until they do, thinking about the team’s next thrower of the football is worthwhile. Though it might be tempting to save key 2024 draft capital, especially with the potential QBs in next year’s NFL Draft, the Vikings could benefit fro adding a QB now. A season to learn head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system would be a boon. So would the opportunity to sit behind Cousins.
In the proposed trade, the Vikings would surrender the No. 23 and 87 picks in 2023 and their 2024 first-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for their No. 7 and 204 picks this year.
Cousins is under contract through the 2023 season, where he will then become an unrestricted free agent. Hence why there has been talk of the Vikings exploring the quarterback position this offseason.
Levis had a strong 2021 campaign with the Wildcats, which propelled his draft stock in 2023. But this past season, Levis didn’t really live up to the hype, as he dealt with a change at the offensive coordinator position, as Liam Coen, who Lewis brings up, left the program to become the offensive coordinator for the Rams. Not to mention that Levis dealt with a variety of injuries.
This past season, Levis threw for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 65.4 percent of his passes through 11 games.
Even with a less-than-ideal 2022 season, Levis is still among the top four quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class. He has the size and arm strength that teams admire. It will be a matter of where Levis ends up getting selected. Based on the recent rise of Florida’s Anthony Richardson, Levis could very well be the fourth quarterback selected.
So Vikings fans, how would you feel if the team traded up to select Levis as their quarterback of the future?
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Author: Scott Rogust
March 23, 2023 | 7:53 am
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