NFL Draft rumors: Insider predicts Vikings to make shock move for QB

The Draft Network’s Jaime Eisner released his latest mock draft and predicted the Minnesota Vikings making a shocking trade-up to select a quarterback.

The 2023 NFL Draft is a matter of days away, and it all begins on Apr. 27 with the Carolina Panthers holding the first-overall pick. After making their massive trade-up with the Chicago Bears, the Panthers are selecting their quarterback of the future.

Once that happens, the NFL Draft can get a lot crazier, as evidenced by the potential of trade ups to the No. 2 pick, held by the Houston Texans, and the No. 3 pick, held by the Arizona Cardinals. Could a team move all the way up to either of those spots to get their new quarterback?

The Draft Network’s Jaime Eisner unveiled his latest mock draft on Sunday. After predicting the Panthers selecting Alabama’s Bryce Young, Eisner had the Minnesota Vikings trading all the way up to the second-overall pick to select Kentucky’s Will Levis!

Eisner then provided some intel that he’s received — that the Vikings are trying to move up to select a quarterback.

Vikings projected by The Draft Network to trade up to select Kentucky QB Will Levis

“Surprise! You may have seen the betting odds change for the No. 2 overall pick on Saturday, with Will Levis becoming the odds-on favorite. But I don’t think that’s because the Texans are taking him. I’ve heard loud rumblings that Minnesota is very active in trying to trade up for a quarterback and I think they will pull off a blockbuster here. Levis will succeed Kirk Cousins after the Vikings chose not to extend the latter beyond this season. There is a major disconnect between how fans and those inside the NFL view Will Levis. Don’t get me wrong, there are several people in the NFL who are uninterested in drafting Levis this high, but there are plenty who believe he is absolutely worth the cost with the upside to be the best passer in the class when it’s all said and done.”

That would be quite the move for the Vikings if it were to happen. From trading down from No. 12 to No. 32 last year, to moving up from No. 23 to No. 2 this year. That would be something.

Minnesota has Kirk Cousins under contract for one more season before he becomes a free agent. It is unknown if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is going to sign Cousins to a contract extension. Let’s not forget, a new general manger will look for the players that they and the head coach are interested in. With Cousins being 35-years-old, it’s quite possible that they could be looking to make a move to find their signal caller for the foreseeable future.

Levis is a polarizing prospect. He transferred out of Penn State after being unable to beat Sean Clifford in a quarterback battle and then had a strong 2021 season at Kentucky. But this past season, Levis had a changeover at offensive coordinator, the offensive line was far from effective and he dealt with injuries. He didn’t light up the stat sheets in 2022, throwing for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 65.4-percent of his passes in 11 games.

What Levis has going for him is the fact that he has a strong arm, has the prototypical size and the knowledge of running a pro-style offense that NFL teams like. And, as Eisner points out, the odds at Vegas have shifted significantly where Levis is now the favorite to be selected second-overall in the NFL Draft.

One team will be selecting Levis on the opening night of the NFL Draft, possibly as high as second-overall. But which team will it be? Will it be the Vikings? The first-round can’t get here soon enough.