Kirk Cousins is in the last year of his contract, and it appears the Minnesota Vikings are working on a contingency plan. The 2023 NFL Draft presents an opportunity for Minnesota to select a promising signal-caller, develop them behind Cousins for a year, and turn the keys of the offense over to them.
Will The Vikings Draft A First Round QB?
However, the Vikings currently have the No. 23 pick in the first round of the draft. They could trade up or see which quarterbacks are available when their turn comes around. It appears Minnesota has its sights set on one quarterback in particular: Hendon Hooker of Tennessee.
Hooker, who transferred from Virginia Tech to Tennessee in 2021, has been gaining attention for his impressive performances on the field. His 58 passing touchdowns and just five interceptions in two seasons with the Volunteers, along with 1,050 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns, have made him a highly sought-after prospect.
What Do The Odds Say?
With +350 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook, the Vikings are seen as the front-runners to select Hooker in the upcoming NFL draft. The Seattle Seahawks are a distant second with +900 odds. Then, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1000), Tennessee Titans (+1000), and Detroit Lions (+1100) are next on the odds board.
Current favorites for NFL Landing spots
Anthony Richardson – Titans +190
Bijan Robinson – Falcons +160
Hendon Hooker – Vikings +360
Jahmyr Gibbs – Patriots +550
Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Patriots +400
Michael Mayer – Packers +400
Quenton Johnston – Vikings +700
Will Levis – Colts…— Eliot Crist 🏆 (@EliotCrist) April 16, 2023
However, not everyone in Minnesota is excited at the prospect of drafting Hooker with the 23rd overall pick. Fans and analysts alike believe the Vikings would be reaching with this selection, and there are other needs to consider on the roster.
Should Minnesota Prioritize Other Positions?
To that point, there’s also buzz surrounding the Vikings taking a wide receiver or cornerback with their first-round pick. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. of Penn State and wide receiver Jordan Addison of USC are a pair of names that mock drafters are associating with Minnesota. Still, that wouldn’t completely rule out Hooker going to the Vikings.
Even though Minnesota doesn’t have a second-round pick, there’s still a chance the Vikings pull off a trade to increase their draft capital. Of course, the team would have to be completely sold on grabbing Hooker as the successor to Cousins to make that happen.
