The NFL Combine Gives the Vikings A Chance to Evaluate These 3 QBs
The NFL Combine begins this week, meaning it’s officially time to look to the 2024 season.
NFL teams will start to visualize their rookie big boards, using the opportunity to interview prospects to give context to what scouts have seen on film. The Minnesota Vikings will enter Indianapolis with three goals for the offseason:
- Add to the quarterback room
- Replenish the edge position
- Add more talent to the cornerback position
The Vikings will leave the NFL Scouting Combine having interviewed their primary targets for their first pick, No. 11. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should have an idea of who their priority target will be, shifting their focus to filling the other needs in the draft.
Today, we will cover which quarterback prospect the Vikings will prioritize at No. 11, why, and which later-round prospects they should prioritize getting to know.
NFL Combine Quarterbacks To Try and Rule Out
Day One: J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
J.J. McCarthy’s tabbed a developmental project entering the NFL Draft but despite that notion, he has one of the highest floors amongst his peers. He has clean mechanics and some fine arm talent. Since Michigan was so dominant, he wasn’t asked to make as big of an impact as the other quarterbacks in the class.
2023 Statistics
- 72.3 completion percentage, 2991 passing yards, 9.0 passing yards per attempt, 22 pass TD, 4 interceptions.
- 64 rushing attempts, 202 rushing yards, 3.2 rushing yards per attempt, 3 touchdowns.
McCarthy will throw and interview at the NFL Combine. The popular QB pick for the Vikings, I expect McCarthy to back up the hype this week. He’s also expected to crush it in interviews.
With a great performance in Indianapolis, McCarthy has an opportunity to pour some gasoline on the fire. Similar to Anthony Richardson’s meteoric rise, McCarthy’s availability at pick No. 11 may be a pipe dream after this week.
On the other hand, ruling out McCarthy would light a fire under the Vikings to re-sign Kirk Cousins or trade up for a better prospect.
Day Two: Spencer Rattler (South Carolina)
Spencer Rattler was once projected to be a first-round QB for this draft class. He’s always planned on playing in the NFL, and his background of preparing as a professional shows in his mechanics. Rattler has a great grasp on the “hows” and “whys” of the position.
However, an underwhelming NCAA career and his negative exposure on the Netflix QB1 series quickly turned the crowd sour on the thought of Rattler as a first-round pick.
2023 Statistics
- 68.9 completion percentage, 3186 passing yards, 8.0 passing yards per attempt, 19 pass TD, 8 interceptions.
- 97 rushing attempts, 104 rushing yards, 1.1 rushing yards per attempt, 4 touchdowns.
Rattler crushed it at the Senior Bowl and won many people over with his poise and technical understanding of the position. He has a great modern build for a quarterback, a live arm, and does the little things right. The NFL Combine magnifies these qualities by having the quarterbacks throw in a controlled environment and interview directly with NFL teams.
Rattler should continue his momentum through this week, possibly pushing his draft stock past the third-round projection it’s at now. If Minnesota re-signs Kirk Cousins on a short-term deal, Rattler would be a fine QB project to sit and learn behind him.
Getting a closer look at and ruling out Spencer Rattler could end up being a good thing. The Vikings are without a third-round draft pick from the T.J. Hockenson and Detroit Lions trade. Minnesota would be well advised to use their picks on defense and not to double-dip at quarterback with Cousins and Rattler.
Day Three: Joe Milton III (Tennessee)
Joe Milton boasts tantalizing potential packed into a 6’5″, 235-pound frame. He didn’t capitalize on his potential as a rusher or passer, despite being in an offense-friendly system in Tennessee from 2021-2023. Milton started his career with Michigan in 2018 but never started an entire season. He went on to have a rare six-year college career.
2023 Statistics
- 64.7 completion percentage, 2813 passing yards, 7.9 passing yards per attempt, 20 pass TD, 5 interceptions.
- 78 rushing attempts, 299 rushing yards, 3.8 rushing yards per attempt, 7 touchdowns.
Milton will likely test the best in drills out of the 2024 quarterback class, but he is also facing questions about a potential transition to tight end. He doesn’t impact the game as a rushing threat, and despite possibly having the strongest arm in the NCAA, Milton heavily struggles with touch and accuracy.
Kevin O’Connell and company should prioritize interviewing Milton to see if the coaching staff can unlock Milton’s potential. If the coaches think they can develop those traits, he’d be a fine risk/reward candidate on day three of the NFL Draft. Otherwise, there will be plenty of talent to restock the defense.
Final Thoughts
The Vikings need to leave the NFL Scouting Combine with a clearer picture of how they want to attack their roster needs. They can start by interviewing quarterback candidates and ruling out prospects. If the coaching staff isn’t comfortable with the quarterback interviews, there will be momentum for Kirk Cousins to re-sign with the team.
Editor’s Note: Draft projections pulled from NFL Mock Draft DataBase. Statistics pulled from Sports-Reference.
Cody Spears‘ passion lies in evaluating NFL prospects and following their stories. He is currently going to school to be an HVAC Technician. Cody enjoys spending his time on road trips with his wife, Amanda, and son, Bentley. Cody and his family are super fans of the show “Survivor” on CBS. He is a future Sole Survivor. You can find his socials and his rookie rankings on his website, The Rookie Rush.