Vikings Called Fit for QB Prospect
Janik Eckardt
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The Vikings are set at quarterback as long as Kirk Cousins is on the team. While some want to see some fresh blood at the position, it has to be noted that starting a solid veteran is not a bad position to be in, especially when the passer is as reliable as Cousins.
Cousins was available for every game but one since he signed with the Vikings in 2018. That one game was in 2021 when he missed the matchup with the Packers in Lambeau Field because he was placed on the COVID list. However, he will turn 35 years old before the next season begins, so the Vikings must plan accordingly.
Vikings Called Fit for QB Prospect
The time between the end of the season and the draft is always bringing up oodles of possibilities concerning the future of teams because no one really knows what organizations will do. However, the Vikings’ leadership may target a passer in the upcoming draft. Cousins is in his contract year and is not getting any younger. In addition, a quarterback on his rookie deal could save a lot of cap space compared to a veteran’s contract.
ESPN’s draft expert Jordan Reid named the best fit for the top 15 quarterbacks in the draft, and his number 7, Stanford QB Tanner McKee, would fit the Vikings, according to Reid.
I’m looking at McKee’s ability off play-action and comfort from multiple pre-snap platforms here. He’d be a great fit for Kevin O’Connell’s offense in Minnesota. He is a quick decision-maker who operates well from a clean pocket, and while Kirk Cousins is the team’s locked-in starter moving forward, McKee would be a developmental prospect who could become a solid backup option in a scheme that suits his strengths.
Jordan Reid, ESPN
The Vikings had a lot of intermediate throws in 2022. For some reason, Cousins and O’Connell couldn’t get the deep passing game going, which used to be the passer’s strength. That has to be a point of emphasis in 2023. We saw in the past that Cousins is very capable of throwing deep, so this seems to be more of a scheme and play-calling issue.
However, McKee would fit that system. He can do most things Cousins can do. His problem is that he can’t do anything beyond Cousins’ skillset. He is not mobile by any means, which is a problem in today’s NFL. The best quarterbacks in the game can do something out of nothing, especially by escaping the pocket with their scramble ability.
McKee threw for 2,947 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions this past season. Pressure exposes his flaws a bit, though — he’s a pocket passer who doesn’t like to be forced off his spot.
Jordan Reid about Tanner McKee
One could say McKee is a young Cousins with good decision-making but not quite the arm talent of the veteran who can hit insanely tight windows with his accuracy and arm strength.
It would be wise for the Vikings to look for their signal caller of the future at some point. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is supposed to be a quarterback whisperer and also played the position. At some point, he wants to groom ‘his guy.’
McKee is considered to be available on day 2, according to Lewis, even “early day 3” of the draft, so the Vikings would have to use their third-round pick. He could be a solid backup, sit for a year, and learn from Cousins, but folks would still ask why the team doesn’t want a more mobile passer in the mold of Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen instead of another pocket passer without scrambling ability.
Regardless, if O’Connell finds a quarterback that he likes and is realistic to get without selling the farm, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mesah should draft him.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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