“New” QB Takes Center Stage in Vikings Draft Orbit
Dustin Baker
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Perhaps it’s not as simple as Drake Maye versus J.J. McCarthy.
“New” QB Takes Center Stage in Vikings Draft Orbit
Over the last month, Minnesota Vikings fans have dwindled the would-be upcoming quarterback choice down to a two-horse race — Maye v. McCarthy — but a couple of mock-draft personalities have dialed that theory back in the last few days. One credible source, in particular, pumped the brakes.
He’s Peter Schrager of NFL.com, and his latest mock draft featured Oregon’s Bo Nix to Minnesota, a player all but left for dead in the Vikings’ draft orbit — until Tuesday.
“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,” Schrager explained while smushing Nix onto the Vikings roster at pick No. 23.
The theory is notable because Nix is the one quarterback of “The Big Six” this draft cycle that Vikings fans, almost in unison, do not want.
Schrager continued, “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.” He also selected Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold for Minnesota and did not move up the draftboard, as most mock drafts have indicated since general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulled off a trade on March 15th, sending two 2nd-Round picks to Houston for the Texans’ 2024 1st-Rounder (Pick No. 23) and a late-round pick swap.
Why is Schrager’s mock draft relevant? Well, he’s usually pretty accurate and bases his mocks on conversations with general managers and league sources.
Meanwhile, Schrager wasn’t alone. On Saturday, CBS Sports‘ Jordan Dajani did the same with Nix to Minnesota and opined, “The Vikings finally make their second selection of the first round, and it is a quarterback. Bo Nix has made more starts than any quarterback in FBS history with 61, and he’s an efficient passer. Maybe some don’t have Nix as a first-round talent, but with this pick, the Vikings get the fifth-year option.”
Dajani’s edition was notable, as he envisioned Minnesota trading back into the 1st Round at pick No. 32 for Nix, while grabbing cornerback Quinyon Mitchell at No. 11.
The knock on Nix is pretty straightforward: arm strength. He does not boast the quality to a degree of other elite prospects, like Drake Maye, for example. 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.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter also called Nix an ideal fit for the Vikings last week.
The draft is nine days away.
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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