Vikings Sent QB in Latest PFF Mock Draft
Adam New
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For some teams, focus is already heading toward the 2023 NFL Draft. Thankfully, that’s not the case for the Minnesota Vikings this year, as playoff football is on the horizon — for the first time since 2019 following a 13-win regular season that saw the Vikings crowned NFC North champions. However, it is wise to keep an eye on the draft process even at this early stage.
Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus has put out his most recent ideas. The Vikings are sent a QB in his latest mock draft.
Vikings Sent QB in Latest PFF Mock Draft
With the 28th pick, Renner sends quarterback Tanner McKee out of Stanford to Minnesota. Here is his thought process when making this decision.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is tied to Kirk Cousins for only one more season, and the Vikings’ roster is too good to where they won’t be getting the pick of the litter in a draft anytime soon. That could mean taking advantage of a deep quarterback class to start a year early on developing Cousins’ successor. McKee is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the draft class but was put in a lot of unwinnable situations on tape at Stanford.
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus
With Kirk Cousins entering the last year of his contract and the fact that he turns 35 before the start of next season, the idea that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell will want to draft “their guy” certainly holds some weight. The point that the Vikings won’t be expecting to have high draft picks is an interesting one. With that mindset, pulling the trigger if a QB you like is on the board would make sense.
Tanner McKee
So, what about Tanner McKee? Is he a first-round talent and potential franchise quarterback? Of course, any opinion on that is pure speculation. He has the arm talent and the accuracy as a pocket passer, but he is not the finished product. I like him as a Day 2 project quarterback, similar to the ill-fated Kellen Mond experiment.
Considering Cousins will still be around next season — and I wouldn’t be surprised if another year gets added to his contract again — drafting a quarterback who can sit and learn from the Vikings signal-caller would be an intelligent play. He could be “another Mond,” but continuing to put draft capital into the quarterback is the smart play.
What about Drafting for Needs?
It’s easy to look at a roster like the Vikings at the moment, one with several obvious holes, and think about drafting for needs. Adding a first-round cornerback, wide receiver, or edge rusher is enticing and is where most mock drafters are looking for Minnesota.
Between now and Day 1 of the draft, I expect there will be the significant ins and outs on the Vikings roster. Ideas of what the Vikings will need in the draft can change significantly with new signings or with current starters leaving. However, the prospect of this Vikings leadership group taking their first shot at finding a quarterback is intriguing.
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