Should the Vikings Take Another Stab at QB in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates after scoring a touchdown as the LSU Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.Saturday October 22, 2022 Lsu Vs Ole Miss Football V1 7401

The Vikings bye week topics wear on for a couple more days, so with that comes another discussion of the 2023 NFL Draft from yours truly. This time around, we’ll be discussing the quarterback position. Seeing as Kirk Cousins is currently set to hit free agency following the 2023 season, this could be the year where the Vikings take another stab at QB in the 2023 NFL Draft. Here are a few realistic options to look at in Day 2.

Bo Nix (Oregon)

Bo Nix had his image tarnished at Auburn and then even a little bit further against the Georgia Bulldogs earlier this season, but we might need to put that opening game in perspective. Firstly, the Ducks were playing the defending national champions who remain one of the best programs in the country. Secondly, it was Nix’s first game with a brand-new offense.

Since then, the Ducks are 6-0 and Nix has vastly improved his play, passing for 1636 yards and 17 TDs while throwing just one interception. They’ve beaten some very strong teams along the way too, including this past weekend when they beat the #9 UCLA Bruins.

Nix undoubtedly still must improve his ability to progress through reads, which is what largely got him in trouble against the defending champs, but there’s no question he has the arm strength and leadership traits of an NFL quarterback. If he’s on the board in the second round for Minnesota, there are certainly worse ways to spend the pick. Plus, who doesn’t want a QB named Bo?

Jayden Daniels (LSU)

In another edition of the transfers that have found greener grass, Jayden Daniels has been turning heads with the LSU Tigers. After three seasons of going under the radar at Arizona State, Daniels headed to the land of ultimate competition in the SEC. So far, it’s worked out beautifully as he’s completed 70% of his passes for 1812 yards, 12 TDs and just one INT.

Daniels hasn’t displayed the most accurate deep ball so far, but his mobility allows him to extend plays. He’s also extremely sharp in the short and intermediate game as displayed against Ole Miss this past weekend. Daniels is a rather raw player at this point, in the same light as Malik Willis last season.

Additionally, this pick would keep the LSU Tigers/Minnesota Vikings pipeline going for the third draft in four years. If anyone were to take a chance on Daniels, it seems like the Vikings should be up there.

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Anthony Richardson (Florida)

Things have been rather up-and-down for Anthony Richardson at Florida this season. Frankly, I’d be more surprised if he committed to the 2023 NFL Draft rather than return to Florida for another season, especially in the NIL era of college football.

That said, if he does in fact declare for this upcoming draft, Richardson remains one of the more intriguing players in this entire draft class solely for his potential. His arm strength is elite, and he is as dangerous with his legs as any QB we’ve seen in recent years. That said, he must do a much better job of taking care of the ball in order to find success in the NFL. He’s turned the ball over seven times through seven games.

At this point, I’d be nervous about the Vikings taking a chance on Richardson with a first-round pick in 2023. However, if he’s available in Round 2 or later, he’s very much worth a pick for the potential he brings.


Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing as well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.

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