With the 11th pick, your Minnesota Vikings select...

Part of why I'm not as high on McCarthy as some... granted I don't watch much college (and I don't pretend to be a scout), but I'm an Ohio State fan, and that's basically what I see is him being managed and the running game doing the job. He can make the occasional throw and take off and run, which isn't a bad thing.... with the caveat that someone needs to develop him. But JJ isn't the reason Michigan has come out on top the last few years. It's been their running game and their defense.

There's also the question of whether or not he'd go back to school. Winning a national championship does make it so that he doesn't really have a reason to, but something to note.

You act like Penix wasn't pressured and had all day to throw the ball against the Horns. Far from true. They were effective at generating pressure, mostly up the middle. With some IDL that would look good in purple.

What killed Texas was playing the same coverage all game long. Michigan also had IDL guys getting pressure, both of whom would also look good in purple.


The difference? They were disguising and changing coverages left and right all night. Masterful plan and execution from their DC, who called a very different game against Bama. Washington got outcoached and outplayed by a superior Team.

And Penix isn't elite enough to overcome the difference in Talent and Coaching. Just like Cousins. But he's also not going to cost $35-$40 million per either.

It’s so interesting hearing certain people saying one QB can’t win a big game because of X and then a QB they like doesn’t get graded by the same standards. It’s not hard to draw that out in a discussion.

Penix already had 2 ACL reconstruction’s on the same knee and looked like he needed a stretcher leaving the field last night. So to disregard his history of not being able to finish a season is definitely a red flag.

I grade everyone the same way. And watch hours of film and evals from the best in the business.

The injuries are a massive red flag. Massive. I've said at least a dozen times that the medicals are the key. If the Staff isn't 100% clear on him then it's a no go.

What is also concerning is that he really struggled to read what the Wolverine Secondary was doing last night. They changed it up a lot and the entire Defense had a completely different gameplan than what they had versus the Tide.

You absolutely would like to see him pick those changes up faster. But it took two thirds of a season for professional Quarterbacks to pick up what Flores was doing.

One would also like to see more patience with what the Defense was giving him. Michigan sold out to get pressure with 4 rushers only and lock down the deep routes. While throwing in the occasional blitz just to mess with him. They had zero fear of the run game either.

On the surface that looks like a bad projection to Minnesota. They give up pressure to 4 Man Rushes and scare nobody with the run.

But that presumes the Vikings will continue with those struggles. Honestly, if O'Connell can't clean up the IOL pass and run blocking he shouldn't be the OC nor the HC.

Penix has a Tier 2, Top 10ish QB ceiling. In other words, a much cheaper Couins or Goff.

I believe you've said you would prefer an Edge like Turner or Verse who have more tape of bad performances than Penix. Minus the medicals. Neither projects to be Hunter 2.0.

So it's a matter of preference. I don't hate the idea of D-Line in the 1st. I hate the idea of Jer'Zhan Wilson in the 1st because his arms are short and he's not some amazing athlete. But I'd take Turner or Verse in a heartbeat if Cousins gets mistakenly retained.

I just prefer a QB with the same ceiling vs. Edge with the same ceiling because it's a more important position. But one poor performance isn't going to change my mind on Penix just like poor performances by Turner and Verse won't.

Granted, I have Cousins fatigue and also don't believe he will play until he's 50. I'm also not afraid of whiffing on a QB in the 1st. That only kills your franchise if you mortgage your future to move up to get one and miss.

Even after last nights game I would take Penix over McCarthy fairly easily. Now I hope we can get a QB with our second pick but there are many factors with this. I wouldn't mind a trade back later in the 1st or early second along with more picks either. Regardless who it is I want a QB 1st or 2nd pick and we have a lot of holes. This offseason will be interesting.

Your shortsighted, hyperbolic post didn't make any point beyond that you would sell the farm for a QB, regardless of risk. There's risk taking and then there's recklessness. The Vikings have too many holes on the team to trade picks for a QB this year. This isn't even a good class.