Vikings Meet with ‘Other Guy’ Rookie QB
Dustin Baker
|
Almost all Minnesota Vikings fans’ attention regarding the possible selection of a rookie quarterback this month has revolved around Will Levis, Hendon Hooker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson — with a pipe-dream side dish of C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson.
Current QB1 Kirk Cousins isn’t under contract beyond 2023, signaling the possible end of tenure in 11 months after six seasons.
Vikings Meet with ‘Other Guy’ Rookie QB
But as the Vikings community salivates in varying degrees over the Levises, Hookers, Thompson-Robinsons, and Richardsons, the ‘other guy’ rookie reportedly met with the team this week — Stanford’s Tanner McKee.
KSTP’ ‘s Darren Wolfson tweeted Tuesday, “One QB in Eagan today visiting the Vikings, I hear: Stanford’s Tanner McKee.”
Most Vikings faithful haven’t jumped in with both feet on McKee’s rookie candidacy because he’s a younger Cousins redux, and those wanting to punctuate the Cousins era prefer a mobile quarterback. McKee isn’t totally inept via running the football, but neither was Cousins as a young man. Drafting McKee would imply a throwback to “pocket passing” rather than a nimble Anthony Richardson or Dorian Thompson-Robinson type.
On Monday, Pro Football Focus released its Top 150 rookie prospects, and McKee checked in at No. 37. “McKee ticks a lot of boxes, and there’s good reason to believe he’ll be even better in the NFL than he was in college,” PFF’s Michael Renner wrote and stylistically compared McKee to Kerry Collins from yesteryear.
The Draft Network describes the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder, “McKee immediately checks the height requirement boxes. McKee has the advantage of standing tall in the pocket with a full view of his route options over his offensive line. He is a throwback-style quarterback that thrives on winning from the pocket. When protected, McKee can distribute the football with confidence.”
Moreover, McKee is truly a draft mystery regarding placement. He could find a new team near the end of the 1st Round, as a general manager may covet his fifth-year option. Or — he could fall all the way to Round 4 based on the locomotion of the draft.
He possesses the arm talent and size but isn’t credited as a creator when plays break down, nor is his footwork to die for. His completion percentage last year (62.0%) was decent, he threw 13 touchdowns in 12 games, and his team finished 3-9.
If the Vikings turn his Tuesday visit into an eventual draft pick, McKee is precisely the type of player who’d have to watch and learn behind Cousins for at least a year.
Minnesota hasn’t drafted a 1st-Round quarterback since 2014.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.