Trey Lance Fever Invades Minnesota
Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman attended a Pro Day on Friday hosted by North Dakota State University. The appearance turned heads as the collegiate quarterback hailing from that institution is Trey Lance – a homegrown Minnesota product.
These are the types of events during an offseason that are newsworthy. Why? Because fans of the Vikings are feverishly seeking clues detailing the franchise’s next moves. For how long is the team committed to quarterback Kirk Cousins? Which offseason free agents will the team employ to fill roster roles? Who will be the team’s pick at the 14th slot of the 2021 NFL Draft?
It’s all fodder. And Spielman’s attendance at the NDSU event is about as juicy as it gets for long-term speculation.
Several draft preferences circulate for the Vikings plans in the 1st Round. The organization could land a defensive lineman or offensive lineman to adequately fill roster needs. Or Spielman may select the best player available – regardless of position.
The latter is why the NDSU visit is so intriguing.
Spielman at NDSU Pro Day, Explained
Was Spielman in North Dakota to scout Lance? Was he there to spy on offensive lineman Dillon Radunz from the same school? That’s where the speculation sets in. In reality, Spielman and his entourage probably peeked at both men. Why wouldn’t they?
New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak traveled with Spielman to North Dakota. That could mean a full view of Lance was on the menu. Maybe Spielman wants to trade back into the 2nd Round and scoop Radunz.
The important takeaway is that Lance is the main event at NDSU. It would be bizarre for an NFL team to make a trip to the school with a show-stopping collegiate quarterback and avoid a jaundiced eye.
The trip was likely a combo platter of Lance and Radunz. The 2021 NFL Draft might get freaky because there was no NFL Combine this year (COVID). What’s more, the draft may be virtual yet again. These are all ingredients for strange happenings on draft night. There is a small chance that Lance tumbles to #14 for the Vikings – or the team trades up to nab him, securing life after Kirk Cousins.
Vikings Don’t “Need” a QB
For now, though, the Vikings do not need a starting quarterback. They have one. His name is Kirk Cousins. And he’s paid handsomely to fling 30+ touchdown passes per season – and Cousins religiously does just that.
The widely-announced prognosis for 2021 involves Cousins as the team’s QB1. Even if Lance wound up in Minnesota this April, he will not start Week 1 of 2021, barring an unforeseen trade of Cousins to a different team.
A Lance selection next month would be a glittering blueprint for the future.
Cousins’ contract will expire in 2022. The extension of that arrangement largely depends on how the team performs in 2021. Too, Spielman could sign on for Cousins’ services beyond 2022 – as soon as today. A restructuring of Cousins’ current deal would entail a backloading aspect, likely adding more years onto Cousins’ tenure. This would create cap space for the Vikings to use on free agents next week.
Cousins isn’t the only player rumored in this vein. Anthony Barr or Adam Thielen may be targeted to move money around.
All in all, however, Cousins does what the franchise needs. He authors north of 4,000 passing yards annually – something the Vikings have never consistently experienced. The franchise generally makes a swap at the quarterback position every three years or less.
Groom the Man if BPA Is Draft Philosophy
Should the Vikings find a way to grab Lance in the 1st Round of the draft, he is the almighty contingency plan at quarterback. There is no way to discern if Minnesota’s front office absolutely loves Kirk Cousins. If they do, VikingsVille is probably looking at least two more years of Cousins. If they do not, a Lance-to-Minnesota pathway is real.
The home-state connection is delicious from every angle. Ask Adam Thielen about it.
Lance was born in Marshall, Minnesota – a southwesterly town. He played high school football there. His statewide notoriety is notable. That will continue regardless of his NFL destination. It has a Carson Wentz-feel to it, and Wentz isn’t even from Minnesota.
If the draft gets strange and Lance falls, he would probably be too irresistible for the Vikings to ignore. To be clear – that mentality applies to most NFL teams, not just the Vikings.