The Minnesota Vikings may enter the 2024 NFL Draft in search of a new starting quarterback. Kirk Cousins hasn't signed an extension and is expected to reach the market. Credible reports are linking Cousins with the Atlanta Falcons. If the Vikings fail to retain Cousins, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell must collaborate to find the next signal-caller.
It's a deep quarterbacks class. The early, middle, and late portions of April’s draft will offer the Vikings various opportunities to pinpoint the "right" quarterback. With Cousins potentially orchestrating his departure, we've swiftly identified three quarterbacks with varying pre-draft stocks the Vikings should consider drafting.
MICHAEL PENIX JR.
Michael Penix Jr. is an extremely accurate quarterback who enjoyed a fantastic throwing session at last week's NFL Combine. His medical checks also reportedly came back clean, ensuring he won’t suffer from an injury-related freefall on draft weekend. There’s now little holding Penix Jr. back from being an early-round pick.
I love this proposed fit. The Vikings have a multitude of pass-catching weapons in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. Penix Jr. is capable of threading the needle when offered even a sliver of space in coverage. Timing and touch are consistently on display when combing through Penix Jr.'s tape.
Penix Jr. thrives within the type of structure O’Connell can provide. O'Connell possesses a brilliant offensive mind, and there’s no doubt he’d place his rookie signal-caller in good situations. Penix Jr.’s ability to read defenses pre-snap and O'Connell's ability to identify weaknesses and call the right play would make this marriage work.
SPENCER RATTLER
No quarterback has arguably boosted his pre-draft stock throughout this process the way Spencer Rattler has. Once considered a late-round pick, Rattler was the best signal-caller in attendance at this year's Senior Bowl, an event he shared with Penix Jr. and Bo Nix. Rattler then enjoyed a fruitful NFL Combine, acing both the testing and interview process. Rattler is now trending toward being a second or third-round selection.
Blending natural physical tools with experience and maturity makes Rattler a candidate to enjoy instant success at the next level. Arm strength allows Rattler access to every level of the field, a must in O’Connell’s explosive offense. The pieces are already in place in Minnesota, and Rattler is capable of taking advantage of positive surroundings.
JOE MILTON III
Joe Milton III is an elite athlete who used the NFL Combine to display his terrific physical traits. Unsurprisingly, Milton III utilized the rocket attached to his right shoulder to chuck the ball 70 yards down the field during his throwing session. No competing quarterback in this class can match Milton III's pure arm strength. Athletically, Milton III posted a position-best 10-foot-1 broad jump, and his 35-inch vertical placed second behind Tulane's Michael Pratt.
Milton III is a little rough around the edges. The technical aspects of his game require improving, but the natural gifts make him a worthy late-round gamble. O'Connell, a former professional quarterback himself, is the ideal candidate to take Milton III on as a developmental project.
