Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Eleven weeks remain until the Minnesota Vikings use their 11th overall pick on a new rookie, trade up the board from their organic spot, or trade down to stockpile draft capital.
Vikings draft theories are aplenty, but most of the team’s fans believe Minnesota will ultimately select a quarterback to take over for Kirk Cousins in 2024 or down the road — or choose an impact defensive player, probably an EDGE rusher or defensive tackle.
But left up to a Pro Football Network mock draft, the Vikings could “reach” at No. 11 and choose Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.
Nix is tentatively expected to be drafted somewhere in Round 1, although some draft nuts believe he could fall into Day 2 (or Rounds 2 and 3). We shall see. Per PFN, though, Nix is right for the Vikings as high as No. 11.
PFN’s Owain Jones explained the pick, “With Cousins leaving in free agency, the Vikings must find their future at the position. They could be a candidate to trade up if anyone at the top is willing to negotiate. However, in this mock, they end up with Bo Nix.”
A handful of mock drafts have also endorsed a Vikings’ trade up the draftboard, perhaps with the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, or New England Patriots, for a blue-chip quarterback prospect like Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina) or. Jayden Daniels (LSU).
“Fans should prepare for Nix to be drafted much higher than many realize. At Oregon, he has been one of the top QBs in college football over the last two years and has the traits and experience that should allow him to slot straight in at the next level,” Jones added.
The Vikings could also “stick and pick” at No. 11 with Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) or J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), both quarterbacks.
Per early fan sentiment, Nix isn’t at the top of the Vikings-themed wishlist. PurplePTSD’s Josh Frey told VikingsTerritory this week about Nix’s scouting report, “He doesn’t have a ton of zip on his arm, and when he does throw deep, it’s often a floating duck. This begs for big interception numbers in the NFL. Definitely my least favorite watch of the Top 6.”
The knock on Nix is pretty straightforward: arm strength. He does not boast the quality to a degree of other elite prospects, like the aforementioned Maye. The anti-Nix sentiment also invokes the “reach” mentality from years past. For example, the Vikings needed a quarterback in 2011 and drafted Christian Ponder, and some believe Nix could become a repeat of that situation.
Yet, according to PFN, Nix could be joining the Vikings to lead the post-Cousins era.
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,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.