Minnesota Vikings can reshape quarterback competition in a unique way with Nolan Teasley putting his stamp on roster
The quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy is heating up, and the Minnesota Vikings can add to it.
The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of a quarterback battle between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray. Within the context of that conversation, there is still one major question: who is the future at quarterback?
We know that the Vikings selected McCarthy at 10th overall to be that guy, but it hasn’t worked out well to this point. Could the Vikings end up making a move to secure the future?
They have an interesting avenue to attack the quarterback position in the supplemental draft. Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Brendan Sorsby has declared for the draft after a tumultuous offseason when allegations of him gambling surfaced.
There were discussions about Sorsby going in the first round in April before he decided to transfer to Texas Tech. Now that he’s entered the supplemental draft, Sorsby has a few hurdles to clear, but he’s worth talking about as a potential option for the Vikings.
They are able to use any pick they have in the 2027 draft to bid on Sorsby. If they win, they forefit that pick in exchange for the player. Is Sorsby worth a draft pick? Let’s go to the tape.
Tale of the tape
Height: 6-3
Weight: 235 pounds
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: Baker Mayfield
Pros for Brendan Sorsby
- Has an elastic arm to throw from multiple angles.
- With a solid base, he shows the ability to drive the ball with velocity.
- Ample size for the position
- When throwing on the move, Sorsby does a good job of squaring up his hips to the line of scrimmage to make a more accurate throw.
- Is a plus runner. Displays really good vision to attack the defense and has the athleticism to punish them for getting out of their rush lanes.
Cons for Brendan Sorsby
- Is inconsistent mechanically from throw to throw. He throws with too much arm and not enough with his lower half.
- Defaults to a sidearm throwing angle too often, leading to passes batted down.
- Gets a little happy in the pocket and will bail too early.
Background
Sorsby wasn’t a highly sought-after quarterback, as a low three-star and the No. 101 quarterback in the nation. He ended up going to Indiana and started as a redshirt freshman in 2023. He transferred to Cincinnati after the 2023 season, where he was a two-year starter.
Throughout his career, Sorsby completed 61.0% of his passes for 7.189 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. As a true dual-threat, Sorsby also rushed for 1,560 yards and 22 touchdowns.
He could have entered the NFL Draft this past year, but decided to go to Texas Tech. Sorsby likely would have been a first or second-round pick, possibly going as high as 13th overall to the Los Angeles Rams. He agreed to a massive NIL deal with the Red Raiders, who had been recruiting at an incredibly high level.
Unfortunately, things took a turn for Sorsby, as news broke that he had placed more than $90,000 in bets, forcing the NCAA to suspend him. He filed for and was granted an injunction to allow him to play. That changed on Monday night, as he filed papers to enter the supplemental draft. It was likely due to the backlash across the nation and how poorly Texas Tech handled the situation.
What the Vikings should do
As a player, Sorsby has a lot of ability. His arm talent is excellent, reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers, in that his arm and lower half are often disconnected when throwing the ball. He can get the ball to any spot on the field, and also throw on the run.
Sorsby does a lot of great things with his arm, but there are issues. He needs to work on his lower half mechanics. He doesn’t get his feet set consistently enough, nor does he transfer his weight from his drive foot to his plant foot. That is evident often when his accuracy sprays all over the place.
Overall, the arm talent is very good, but he needs to be somewhat rebuilt mechanically to be successful long-term. I would place a late second-round pick, meaning if the Vikings were to be interested, placing their bid as a third-round pick, of which the Vikings have two in 2027.
Now comes the key question: should the Vikings place a bid of Sorsby? That depends how you feel about the quarterback room as a whole. If you think McCarthy is going to be the future of the franchise, it doesn’t make sense to bring in Sorsby. If there are real questions about McCarthy, simply put: it should be a real consideration.
There is still a real chance that McCarthy gets traded after the quarterback competition, and that could open the door for the Vikings to add another quarterback. However, it would be a projection since the competition is likely going far into training camp. Personally, I would gauge the McCarthy trade market before selecting Sorsby, because you could be getting enough back for McCarthy to make trading him worth it.
If the Vikings end up taking Sorsby, simply put: he’s the future.
