The Minnesota Vikings selected Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond with the 66th overall pick in the NFL Draft, adding a developmental project behind Kirk Cousins.
Mond was a four-year starter for the Aggies, throwing for 71 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. In each season, Mond improved his completion percentage, going from 51.5 percent as a freshman to 63.3 percent as a senior.
The 21-year-old also adds a dual threat to the quarterback position, running for 22 touchdowns over his collegiate career.
But Mond has been inconsistent throughout his career partly due to injuries and playing in Jimbo Fisher’s offensive system.
I'm not surprised the #Vikings invested in a developmental quarterback this year.
Mond has a big arm, but his accuracy is all over the map. It improved over the past two years though. He is also athletic and ran a 4.62 (86th percentile).
Let him develop and see what happens.
— Daniel House (@DanielHouseMN) May 1, 2021
The Vikings entered Friday’s action with four picks in the third round but didn’t make the expected trade up into the second. With the Vikings waiting to select Mond, they gave up nothing to get their quarterback of the future.
Minnesota also added a guard on Friday night, selecting Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis with the 88th overall pick.
A former five-star recruit, Davis starred for the Buckeyes as a steady, athletic force in the middle of the offensive line. Although he had his struggles in 2020, Davis allowed just 15 pressures in 2019 and was the top-ranked guard on Pro Football Focus’ big board.
With the selection of Davis, the Vikings wrapped up Thursday night’s deal with the New York Jets. Their overall haul included Mond, Davis and first-round pick Christian Darrisaw.
Vikings + Jets Trade =
Jets:
â—Ź Alijah Vera-Tucker
â—Ź 143rd PickVikings:
â—Ź Christian Darrisaw
â—Ź Kellen Mond
â—Ź Wyatt Davis— Dustin Baker (@DustBaker) May 1, 2021
While the Vikings used the trade with the Jets to bolster their offense, Minnesota improved its defense by adding North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt and Pittsburgh edge rusher Patrick Jones.
Surratt, who was selected with the 78th overall pick, is a former quarterback that converted to linebacker during his time at Chapel Hill. Once making the switch, Surratt averaged 10 tackles per game but will be a developmental prospect in the NFL at 6-foot-2 and 229 pounds.
Jones, who was the 90th overall pick, collected 62 pressures during the 2019 season but only mustered 37 in 2020. At 6-foot-4 and 261 pounds, Jones has the frame to become a solid developmental project for Andre Patterson.
