The moment the Minnesota Vikings lost Kirk Cousins to a devastating Achilles injury their hopes of making an improbable playoff run this season were sharply extinguished. No matter how Cousins' recovery progresses, it's time for Minnesota to initiate a serious roster rebuild via April's NFL Draft.
Selecting a new quarterback for the present and future will be an obvious consideration for the team's front office. Part of that depends on exactly where the Vikings end up selecting in Round 1. Currently, their 5-4 record has them projected to pick somewhere around the No. 20 spot. It's very likely their performance down the stretch will see their draft position go higher ahead of the actual event.
None of that means the Vikings have to take a quarterback. The team could look to add an impact starter at another high-value position to jumpstart their rebuild. That might not be a popular decision with the team's fan base but it doesn't stop it from being a consideration. Minnesota should keep a close eye on these three prospects ahead of April's draft.
3. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Michigan's starting quarterback isn't the most exciting signal-caller in this year's draft class but it's easy to see how he'd fit in Minnesota. J.J. McCarthy shares a lot in common with Cousins which could ease his transition to the helm of the Vikings' offense.
McCarthy possesses the arm strength required to make all of the throws in the NFL playbook. He's also an above-average processor of the game from a mental perspective. He doesn't possess the sort of elite talent to elevate the players around him but he can fit into a system and serve as a quality offense's point guard.
He's not in the same class of classmates like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye but McCarthy will be included in the next tier of quarterback prospects. The Vikings should spend a lot of time evaluating his college tape to see if he is good enough to bet their future on.
2. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Drafting a non-quarterback isn't going to please the Vikings' fan base but there's an obvious argument to be made for Minnesota adding a starter at cornerback in Round 1. If they do look to go that route, landing Nate Wiggins would be an excellent plan of action for the front office.
Wiggins is just the sort of long, athletic corner that NFL front offices covet to help cover opposing wideouts on the outside. He hasn't seen a lot of action at Clemson this year but that's because most quarterbacks are hesitant to test him on the perimeter. His technique will need refinement at the next level but his combination of length and speed could make him a star at the next level.
Wiggins is another prospect that Minnesota won't be able to land if they continue to play .500 football. There's an outside chance he will hear his name called toward the bottom of the top 10. At the very least, he profiles as a comfortable top-15 pick.
Even so, landing a No. 1 cornerback anywhere in the middle third of Round 1 represents outstanding value for any franchise. Wiggins can't solve the team's offensive issues but he can give them a defensive building block that helps provide them more salary flexibility to fill other roster holes in free agency.
1. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
No quarterback has one more than Michael Penix Jr. to raise his draft stock this season. His electric playmaking for Washington has garnered serious attention from any team thinking about selecting a signal-caller in Round 1.
Unlike McCarthy, selecting Penix would represent a serious scheme change for Minnesota. He's got a long way to go in terms of making quick decisions in the pocket, but there's no question he has the arm talent and mobility required to make big plays down the field.
The question the Vikings need to ask themselves with Penix is whether or not they have the patience required to live with the mistakes he will inevitably make as a rookie. He possesses terrific upside but there will be serious growing pains for any team that deploys Penix as a rookie. That might not sit well with offensive veterans like Justin Jefferson.
Ultimately, the Vikings need to hit the reset button at quarterback with a guy they believe can blossom into a star. Penix has that kind of potential even if some bust potential comes along as part of the package. It's a risk worth taking for a franchise that needs to make the hard decision at the game's most important position.