There’s an Absurd New Vikings Mock Draft
Dustin Baker
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Are you of the opinion that the Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback for the future? Well, how about two?
There’s an Absurd New Vikings Mock Draft
That’s the latest and greatest theory from Pro Football Focus, publishing a mock draft on Monday where the purple team drafted North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr. of Washington, two passers from this year’s “Big Six” quarterback prospect group.
Sam Monson was the architect, and he envisioned a mini-tumble for Maye down the draftboard to No. 9. “The Vikings double-dip at quarterback: Minnesota drafts a falling Drake Maye in Round 1 before selecting Michael Penix Jr. early in Round 2 after a few trades,” Monson introduced his theory.
Minnesota has been linked to Maye for a couple of months during the draft lead-up, but pairing him with an additional rookie is a brave new world. With the NFL Draft eight days away, the odds of Maye becoming a Viking are around +350 per sportsbooks.
Monson explained Maye to the Vikings after a trade up to No. 9, “There were reports that Drake Maye is the quarterback the Minnesota Vikings covet, and that lines up nicely for them if he starts to slide as more and more concerns crop up with his game. In this scenario, Minnesota jumps up only two spots to ensure they get their guy and ward off teams behind them looking to jump in front.”
The trade partner, per Monson, was the Chicago Bears, an even unlikelier concept as the Vikings’ rival probably wouldn’t hand Maye to Minnesota on a silver platter.
Nevertheless, Monson continued with Penix Jr. to Minnesota in Round 2. “General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has a finance background, which means diversifying and hedging. Minnesota shocks the NFL by selecting quarterbacks in the first and second,” he detailed.
That trade involved the New England Patriots, a franchise that grabbed Minnesota’s 23rd pick in exchange for draft selections Nos. 34 and 68.
Penix Jr. was linked to Minnesota in the draft machine back in December, but his stock cooled off after he struggled in the National Championship, and folks learned his injury resume was longer than the Nile.
If Monson were correct — a longshot — the Vikings’ QB room on April 27th would look like this:
- Sam Darnold
- Drake Maye
- Michael Penix Jr.
- Nick Mullens
- Jaren Hall
A crowded house, indeed.
In 2012, the Washington Commanders drafted Robert Griffin III in Round 1 and Kirk Cousins two days later. That could be the Monson inspiration.
The Vikings have nine total picks entering the draft.
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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.
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