Peter Schrager sends Vikings subpar QB in NFL mock draft

Peter Schrager sends Vikings subpar QB in NFL mock draft

The Minnesota Vikings continue to be a fascinating team to write NFL mock drafts for. With picks at both 11 and 23 overall, there are a lot of different options they could go.

One of those options is one that fans of the purple and gold don’t seem to like is waiting until 23rd overall to take a quarterback. That is exactly what Peter Schrager of NFL Network has the Vikings doing in his latest NFL mock draft.

First up was Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold. Cornerback is a position that the Vikings don’t necessarily have a major need at but also is a position that could be fortified.

The Vikings stay put to take a top corner and great all-around prospect. Arnold arrived in Tuscaloosa as five-star safety, then played inside and outside corner under Nick Saban. He flourished and was the Alabama defense’s field general last season. Great juice and a leader. Sam Darnold will be the Vikings’ Day 1 starter in this scenario, but that doesn’t mean Minnesota’s done with the quarterback room …

Minnesota Vikings take QB5 in NFL mock draft

This is where things get interesting for the Vikings. They do end up taking a quarterback, but it’s not Michael Penix Jr. Schrager has them taking Oregon’s Bo Nix at 23rd overall, a spot that feels vehemently too high.

Nix could go as high as 11, 12 or 13 … or completely fall out of the first round. I think 23 to the Vikings — or another team around here in a trade-up — makes sense. One thing on Nix: He’s as accurate as they come, having just set the FBS record this past season with a completion percentage of 77.45. Smart processor, too. These are things that will be very highly valued by offensive coaches and QB gurus. That’s Kevin O’Connell. That’s Sean Payton. I could see Nix playing for either of those master tacticians.

Accuracy isn’t as simple as having a high completion percentage, it’s about more than that. His average depth of target (aDOT) was a paltry 6.9 yards. The other top quarterbacks are all over 10 yards aDOT. Context needs to be taken into consideration with the quarterbacks that get taken in the first round and don’t just look at simple counting stats.