The Minnesota Vikings just knew they had their new QB until another team decided to move up and take him.
The Vikings were prepared to draft Justin Fields at No. 14 if the former Ohio State star fell to them, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Only problem there is that the Chicago Bears moved up from No. 20 to No. 11, and Cronin says the Vikings were left “stunned.”
The team did not want to give up significant draft capital for a player who would be spending at least one season behind Cousins. The Bears moved up nine spots to make the selection, trading with the New York Giants. In exchange, the Bears gave up their number 20 pick and a fifth round pick in 2021, along with a 2022 first round pick and a fourth round pick in next year’s draft.
Instead, the Vikings hung back to select Mond.
Minnesota brass had let Cousins know that they were looking to select a quarterback in the draft, so he wouldn’t feel blindsided by the move.
Mond going at No. 66 marked the highest pick the Vikings have used on a quarterback since adding Teddy Bridgewater in 2014.
