The Most Obvious Sign that the Vikings May not Target a QB Early in the Draft
Josh Frey
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Over the past few weeks, there has been a growing buzz around the Minnesota Vikings potentially selecting a quarterback early in the 2023 NFL Draft, perhaps even trading up to select someone like a Will Levis out of Kentucky.
However, what if that is entirely outside of the Vikings plans for this spring? There is one obvious sign why Minnesota may not target one of these top QBs early in the draft: the Vikings have not been reported to be taking meetings with these QBs.
While many of the usual candidates (Colts, Falcons, Raiders, Texans, Titans) have been meeting with prospects like Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, and even Hendon Hooker, we’ve seen the Vikings meet with Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a prospect that is a consensus Day 3 pick.
Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean the Vikings are completely uninterested in drafting a QB with their first pick. However, the fact that Minnesota has spent their top-30 visits on prospects at the cornerback and wide receiver positions like Jordan Addison, Brian Branch, Quentin Johnston, and Emmanuel Forbes shows that they likely have other priorities listed higher than QB this year.
So, if the Vikings are going to take a quarterback in this draft like so many are predicting, where will it be? Based on the visit with Thompson-Robinson, it seems like a safe bet that the No. 87 pick (or a tad earlier if Minnesota acquires another Day 2 pick via trade).
If we want to keep an eye on QBs in this range, Thompson-Robinson makes sense, along with others like Clayton Tune. These are development players that probably won’t be ready to see the field right away, but with a year or two of sitting behind a starter and learning the system, they can become solid to even very good quarterbacks.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.