After adding quarterback Kyler Murray in free agency, the Minnesota Vikings might not be done acquiring passers this offseason. The decision-makers reportedly met with Georgia Tech’s Haynes King, an athletic quarterback prospect in the upcoming draft.
Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports reported after Georgia Tech’s pro day, “Quarterback Haynes King was on the money, and one NFC East team described him as ‘dialed in’ throughout the entire workout. For those keeping score, he hit on 52 of 54 passes and was very accurate. Over the course of the past two days, King met with the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings. King has been lauded for his leadership and toughness by scouts.”
We’ve seen in the past that pro day and combine throwing numbers don’t mean much, but it’s still good to see a QB that is entering the draft with questions about his passing skills show consistency in front of scouts, coaches and front office members.
King’s calling cards are his athleticism and toughness. At the combine, he showed those in attendance what he can do, running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, proving he’s coming into the NFL as one of the most explosive QBs.
After starting his collegiate career at Texas A&M (as a teammate of former Vikings pick Kellen Mond), he transferred to Georgia Tech in 2023. In 36 games in the ACC, he tabulated 7,907 passing yards and a TD-INT ratio of 55-24.
His numbers on the ground are exciting, with 2,277 rushing yards and 36 additional scores. Last season alone, he generated 953 yards and 15 touchdowns with his legs.
Georgia Tech’s SI reporter Najeh Wilkins wrote after the pro day, “King did most of his work at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he impressed scouts with his 40-yard dash, interviews, and displayed what he can do. He took it up another notch on Friday with pristine accuracy.”
“King had only two incompletions in positional drills with his wide receivers and continued to deliver the ball on the money. The throw he continued to execute at a high level was the post right, steadily hitting wide receivers in stride easily. He also got some work in on the move and was accurate rolling out of the pocket. If NFL teams still have questions about Haynes King, they haven’t been looking hard enough. King is a stud player and will forever be enshrined in Georgia Tech folklore.”
The Vikings currently have three quarterbacks under contract, headlined by newcomer Kyler Murray and last year’s starter and former top 10 pick, J.J. McCarthy. Max Brosmer, who was signed a year ago as a camp body and potential developmental depth option, is also on the team after his emergency starts in his rookie season.
Though not everyone is sold on either McCarthy or Murray, the duo gives head coach Kevin O’Connell two starting options. Brosmer remains a project. King could either replace him or, in theory, be Minnesota’s version of Taysom Hill, a college quarterback turned into a Swiss Army Knife on offense and special teams.
In O’Connell’s tenure, the Vikings have drafted two quarterbacks: J.J. McCarthy and Jaren Hall. If King is the third, he would not be expected to become a starter at any point, but more of a developmental-type player.
Draft Huddle summarized his draft profile: “Haynes King is a resilient dual-threat quarterback whose mobility and competitiveness helped him become a productive player at Georgia Tech. His ability to extend plays and generate offense with his legs adds value to his profile. While improvements in accuracy, mechanics, and ball security will be necessary for long-term success, King’s toughness, running ability, and leadership give him developmental potential as a late-round or undrafted quarterback option.”
King is regarded as a late-round pick or an undrafted rookie. If he’s the latter, the Vikings might open their checkbook to bring him to the Twin Cities as part of their generally extensive UDFA classes.
Even after signing Kyler Murray, the Vikings appear committed to continuing their evaluation of young quarterbacks. If Haynes King ultimately lands in Minnesota, it would likely be as a developmental piece with intriguing athletic upside.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
