Questions Answered: Bo Nix as the QB, The Starting LG, PFT at It Again
Dustin Baker
|
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the April 16th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Bo Nix as the QB, The Starting LG, PFT at It Again
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Peter Schrager of NFL.com mock drafted Bo Nix to the Vikings. Is that really a thing I need to prepare for?
Answer: No, probably not.
Indeed, Schrager mocked Nix to Minnesota and explained, “Nix could go as high as 11, 12 or 13 … or completely fall out of the first round. I think 23 to the Vikings — or another team around here in a trade-up — makes sense. One thing on Nix: He’s as accurate as they come, having just set the FBS record this past season with a completion percentage of 77.45. Smart processor, too. These are things that will be very highly valued by offensive coaches and QB gurus. That’s Kevin O’Connell. That’s Sean Payton. I could see Nix playing for either of those master tacticians.”
We believe Nix will slide out of Round 1 and be drafted by a non-Vikings team. We truly think Minnesota will shoot for the stars with Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy — not Bo Nix.
Q: Will Blake Brandel start in September, will Dalton Risner be back, or will the Vikings draft a guard?
Answer: All signs point to Brandel.
Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling told KFAN in March, “The money they gave Brandel, specifically the years, did make me wonder if he’s going to get that chance to start … the fact they gave him a three-year deal, that’s not something you just do because you have too. I don’t think his market would have been that hot … I do think there’s a chance that he will get an opportunity to compete for that spot.”
And Minnesota doesn’t pick in the draft after Round 1 until pick No. 108.
It’s probably Brandel or a competition with a mid-to-late-round rookie. But this coaching regime has proven its mettle to turn the offensive line around, so folks shouldn’t be too mad or anxietal about Brandel. He might be good.
Q: Pro Football Talk reopened the Justin Jefferson trade theories today. Will it ever stop?
A: The Jefferson trade theories won’t cease until the man is extended.
“The clock keeps ticking. The draft is coming. Could the end result be Jefferson plus the 11th pick to the Commanders for the Jayden Daniels pick? Jefferson plus No. 11 to the Patriots for No. 3? The Vikings can end that narrative by making the investment in Jefferson, now. Until they do, it’s possible that they’ll give up and trade him — and it’s definite that the price will keep increasing,” PFT’s Mike Florio wrote on Tuesday.
The Vikings won’t trade Jefferson. It might be the most commonly typed sentence on this website.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell also said in February that trading Jefferson was borderline ludicrous. O’Connell told PFT Live, “Let me dissect it for you. We have had zero discussions, dialogue about that, either internally, externally, on this planet or another planet.”
General manager Adofo-Mensah said about Jefferson’s upcoming deal at the NFL Combine, “We’ve said it, and we’ll continue to say it: we think he’s the best wide receiver in the league and should be compensated as such. We think he’s one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league, think he should be compensated as such.”
“That is not something that has ever crossed my mind,” Adofo-Mensah replied when a reporter asked about trading Jefferson as a possibility.
Jefferson will be extended for the long haul sometime after the draft.
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 MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, 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.