How has Kellen Mond looked at Vikings OTAs so far?

Rookie Kellen Mond has what it takes to be the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback of the future.

Though he is not expected to play very much at all during his rookie season out of Texas A&M, quarterback Kellen Mond has the potential to be a very special player for the Minnesota Vikings.

Mond was a big reason why the Aggies came up one win short of their first College Football Playoff berth in school history. Texas A&M made its first trip to the New Year’s Six last year and dominated the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Orange Bowl. Mond progressed marvelously in his senior season in College Station, culminating in his day-two selection by the Vikings this spring.

“I want him to be himself,” said Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. “We brought him in here as a talented, athletic quarterback, and I just want him to be himself. But the things he can learn from Kirk [Cousins] are the way that he handles the games, the way that he goes about his business in the classroom and on the field, how to work.

“A lot of these guys when they come in, they don’t know how to be professional. Part of that is in the locker room and in the weight room. All those types of things.”

Mond will be back up Kirk Cousins this fall and probably won’t make a start for the 2021 Vikings. What is interesting regarding Mond besides his dual-threat playmaking abilities is that he played in a pro-style offense in college under Jimbo Fisher, meaning he has a leg up on most rookie quarterbacks who spent the bulk of their college career in shotgun running the spread offense.

NBCSports’ Chris Simms has lofty praise of Mond, saying he is his draft’s version of Dak Prescott.

If Mond becomes Prescott for the Vikings, then Minnesota truly has itself a franchise cornerstone.

Kellen Mond highlights

Again, we will not be able to glean a ton from Mond during Vikings OTAs this summer, or during training camp for that matter. Cousins will be the starter, and he will probably play well for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was recently promoted from within from quarterbacks coach.

All the while, Mond has a big leg up on many in adjusting to the NFL‘s steep learning curve.

Because he wasn’t a first-round pick, there is no pressure for the Vikings to play Mond early. Minnesota should be able to contend or a playoff spot with Cousins under center for the time being. However, if it becomes painfully clear that the 2021 Vikings are no good, don’t be shocked if Mond gets some starts late in the year once the season is out of reach. He may be ready by then.

Mond has the organizational stability to be better than many quarterbacks drafted ahead of him.