Early Rounds
There are plenty of ways to go about drafting a quarterback. The Vikings will be in position to develop a young arm while starting Kirk Cousins for a year. That said, they don’t have to spend a high-end pick on a quarterback that will not play right away. If they do indeed decide to take one early, though, here are a couple of options.
Jacob Eason, Washington
Jacob Eason was one of the most highly touted quarterbacks out of high school. After spending time at Georgia, Eason decided to transfer out west to Washington once Jake Fromm took his spot. He enters the 2019 college football season as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and hopes to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Eason is a large presence in the pocket, standing 6-5 and 235 pounds. His frame provides him with a strong arm and the confidence to stand tall against pressure. He takes hits but delivers through contact with ease. His overall feel for the pocket is incredible.
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Given that Cousins struggles in that area at times, Eason could be the perfect replacement. When Eason is given time, he fires an excellent deep ball. He has all the tools to succeed in the NFL.
Like any other quarterback, Eason has some flaws. While he is a large body in the pocket, he will hunch and limit that size. Despite having the height to see over the line, he often ducks or hides and doesn’t maximize his frame. Eason also stares down his receivers on occasion. If he cleans these up, he can be a dominant NFL quarterback.
With guys like Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa set to steal the show, Eason may slide under the radar.
Jake Fromm, Georgia
Jake Fromm is the quarterback that forced Eason out of town in Athens. He took over under center and led the Bulldogs to a National Championship Game appearance in 2017. Now, Fromm is preparing for his third season at Georgia and perhaps to enter the NFL.
Fromm is not the physical specimen that Eason offers, but he’s an incredible student of the game. He plays a bit on the conservative side and struggles with getting through reads. Still, Fromm knows how to lead an effective offense.
Fromm is a game manager that throws a beautiful ball from the pocket. He is more than capable of leading quality drives and dominating the short game. And while Fromm may not be an imposing threat with his arm, he does enough to win games without blowing defenses away.
That may sound familiar; my pro comparison for Fromm as of now is Teddy Bridgewater. The Vikings could like what they see in the Georgia product.