INDIANAPOLIS – Kentucky quarterback Will Levis informed a gripping story Friday morning about his assembly this week with Vikings brass inside a Lucas Oil Stadium suite.
Levis, thought-about one of many prime passers on this 12 months’s draft together with Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson, stated the Vikings had him maintain a soccer throughout their interview.
“They simply type of had you’ve gotten a soccer in your arms,” Levis stated, “which is sweet as a result of I like having one thing to type of mess around with. I do not know if it is as a result of they needed to see how huge my arms had been or one thing.”
The Vikings are assembly with the draft’s quarterbacks — the identical as they did final 12 months — whereas additionally once more attempting to barter new contract phrases with quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is just signed via 2023.
Coach Kevin O’Connell stated he values face-to-face interactions and evaluations of draft prospects, as some coaches, such because the Packers’ Matt LaFleur, avoid Indy. Regarding quarterbacks, O’Connell prefers an annual examine of veterans and rookies alike as a result of he stated he by no means is aware of when he’ll cross paths with a participant.
“Just out of behavior, I do that each single 12 months,” O’Connell stated earlier this week. “The guys within the draft, free company, simply trying on the panorama of the league, after which the entire quarterbacks on our roster and the way we really feel about our place. There’s a cause I really feel so strongly about Kirk.”
Gophers attain 4.4 velocity
Gophers defensive backs Jordan Howden and Terell Smith posted spectacular occasions within the 40-yard sprint on Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Howden, who was questioned by draft analysts about his velocity, ranked fifth amongst safeties with a 4.49-second time. Smith tied for eighth amongst all cornerbacks needing solely 4.41 seconds.
Neither fared as properly within the jumps, which gauge explosiveness. Howden ranked twelfth in each the vertical (33.5 inches) and broad (9 toes, 11 inches) jumps out of 19 safeties. Smith ranked twenty fifth together with his vertical bounce (34 inches) and twenty seventh within the broad bounce (10 toes) out of 29 corners.
Brotherly recommendation
Auburn kicker Anders Carlson, the youthful brother of former Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson, stated he is obtained some brotherly recommendation in regards to the NFL journey. The older Carlson was named a first-team All-Pro choice for the Raiders final season, 4 years after he was a fifth-round decide launched after solely two video games for Minnesota.
“He simply informed me to get pleasure from this course of,” Anders Carlson stated. “He talked about a number of the issues he lacked going to the Vikings. He had plenty of expertise, however trusted himself not as a lot as he does now. Now with the Raiders, he is had plenty of success and I’m positive that is not going to cease. He’s obtained an important group round him, which is absolutely essential within the NFL.”
