A Draft Darling for Vikings Is Tumbling
If you’re in the camp wanting the Minnesota Vikings to draft the “surest thing” at quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft, the board is breaking for you.
Unbelievably, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, the frontrunner for a few weeks to land with the Carolina Panthers via the first overall pick, may be plunging down the draftboard, at least compared to his standing at the beginning of April.
A Draft Darling for Vikings Is Tumbling
Indeed, after the fun part of NFL free agency capped at the end of March, Stroud temporarily transformed himself into the draft’s top quarterback — but it didn’t last long.
Alabama’s Bryce Young has absolutely seized the No. 1 overall pick by the esophagus, now the overwhelming pace-setter to land with the Panthers to the tune of a -1400 moneyline — which is about as definitive as it gets heading into a draft. Young reportedly canceled the rest of his team visits, an apparent resignation to fate that he’ll become a Panthers in eight days.
Subsequently, Stroud is left in limbo, a strange development for the one quarterback in this year’s field with everything. He’s not short like Young; not old like Hendon Hooker; no mayo in the coffee like Will Levis; absent inaccuracy woes like Anthony Richardson.
Mark it down: with about one week to go before the grandest reality television event of them all, Stroud is becoming more available to the Vikings than ever before — if the club wants him.
Even the wacky Levis is surpassing Stroud via pre-draft hype. It’s unbelievable. Sportsline‘s Matt Severance wrote Monday, “Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is the new +180 favorite to be the second pick with Stroud next at +250, followed by pass-rushers Tyree Wilson of Texas Tech and Will Anderson of Alabama each at +350. The Texans could look for defense at No. 2 for defense-first new head coach DeMeco Ryans and then grab a quarterback at No. 12, part of the package received from Cleveland in the Deshaun Watson trade.”
Yes, for now — somehow — Levis ahead of Stroud.
For Vikings purposes, this could mean general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah “only” needs to trade up to the 6th pick or so to sign Stroud on the dotted line. The price will still be gaudy — probably two 1st-Rounders and a 2nd-Rounder or something similar — but that’s a lot cheaper than Stroud just joining the Panthers outright at No. 1, as was the forecast three weeks ago.
On the whole, it’s still a longshot for Adofo-Mensah to pull the trigger on a Stroud trade, chiefly because the Vikings already employ a productive quarterback in Kirk Cousins. Moreover, the club has just five draft picks to work with next week.
Still, Stroud was wholly ungettable as recently as a couple of weeks ago. Now, there’s a reasonable path to effectuate his adventure with the Vikings.
He’s not weird, old, or tiny. The 21-year-old can be “the guy” after Cousins if the Vikings want it badly enough.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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