The Minnesota Vikings could have an eye on the future in a couple of weeks. Kirk Cousins, who was not brought in by this current regime, is currently in the final year of his deal with the team and no contract extension appears to be imminent. Despite going 13-4 and winning the NFC North, the Vikings under head coach Kevin O’Connell could be a team in transition.
The Vikings played host to a top quarterback prospect in Tanner McKee on Tuesday, according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson. The Stanford Cardinal QB figures to be one of the highest-selected quarterbacks come Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Minnesota, apparently, wants to do its due diligence, as Cousins and Nick Mullens are the only Vikings quarterbacks currently under contract.
One QB in Eagan today visiting the #Vikings, I hear: Stanford’s Tanner McKee. pic.twitter.com/M8xL5FtY8s
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) April 11, 2023
Minnesota drafted Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond in the third round (No. 66 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, as the previous regime had an eye on the future. That obviously didn’t work out, as Mond is now with the Cleveland Browns after spending just one season in Minnesota. Now, the Vikings could take another calculated risk at a signal-caller like McKee in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft. Minnesota doesn’t own its second-round selection after trading it to Detroit for tight end TJ Hockenson.
The NFL world reacted to the huge news. Several Vikings fans seem to be on board with the idea of taking a quarterback like McKee at No. 87 overall.
Tanner McKee may not be a top prospect in this years draft, but could certainly be worth drafting in the 2nd or 3rd round as a developmental guy behind Cousins.
His arm is plenty good but didn’t get to showcase much because Stanford’s skill group wasn’t good https://t.co/sPkYRPkacK
— Mitch (@Skol_vikings3) April 12, 2023
KOC won a Super Bowl with Stafford so the interest makes sense. Just don’t think he’s anywhere near as good. https://t.co/hkUAQ0VjTe
— Deshawn Vaughan (@vikingsfans16) April 11, 2023
Taking Tanner McKee R3
>>>>>>
Taking Hendon Hooker R1— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) April 11, 2023
The Vikings continue to do their work on the quarterback class
McKee is a fascinating evaluation. He played on a really bad team with a worse offensive scheme, but the arm talent pops on his film https://t.co/S0iaYa3sL0
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) April 11, 2023
McKee has a solid arm and plays within the framework of the offense. Only major downside is his lack of mobility. #Vikings would need to shore up that interior for the kid to have a shot. https://t.co/GfnXgolFOs
— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) April 11, 2023
A QB that actually makes sense on day 2 because the team has no capital to move up pic.twitter.com/K4LwWGaGAp
— GriddyKirk 😈 (@Vikings_Griddy) April 11, 2023
[Darren Wolfson on Twitter]
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.