The NFL Draft stock of Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey mirrors the predictive prospects of his team- higher than you might think. The Golden Gophers are a sleeper pick to make some real noise in the Big Ten this upcoming season while Lindsey projects as a day two pick in next April's draft.
If both of these narratives seem new to you, well, you're proving the point- both the Gophers as a whole, and their QB1 in Lindsey are flying under the radar. At 6-5, 230, Lindsey has ideal size for a QB at the next level. A redshirt sophomore, he could come out in the 2027 class, but if he wants to wait until 2028 or 2029, those are options as well.
Last season, he had an eye-popping 18 TD passes to 6 interceptions slash line, to go along with 64% pass completion.
He's not the finished product, by any means, but he's not far off either.
At Media Day we caught up to him, and asked what he's been focused on this season, in order to augment his game.
"I've definitely focused a lot on my fundamentals," he responded.
"Whether that's in the pocket, using my legs. I've been training a lot with my quarterback trainer Quincy Avery. He's done a great job having a transformation with me this off-season, (helping me) grow a lot as a leader, and all those kind of things."
Minnesota's offensive systems appropriate a lot from what Offensive Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase does with the Los Angeles Rams. And hence, Lindsey is a student of Rams QB Matt Stafford's game.
Asked who he models his game on, Lindsey answered:
"I like watching Joe Burrow and Matt Stafford.
"We run a lot of the same concepts as the Rams, so we watch a lot of film on obviously the Rams and Matt Stafford. So being able to watch him is super cool."
Lindsey has deep family ties to the University of Arkansas (where his father, uncle, and grandfather played). He's also a Fayetteville, Arkansas native. However, the Razorbacks didn't offer him a scholarship, and he instead signed with Minnesota.
His very colorful character of a coach, the outspoken P.J. Fleck, was a big reason why he went to the Twin Cities to play college ball.
"Minnesota just really intrigued me with how they recruited me," Lindsey said.
"It was definitely exciting to get that opportunity to play in the Big 10 and play under Coach Fleck, who's definitely one of a kind. And I feel like it was the life program part, and all the opportunities within football that really brought me here."
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Univ of Minnesota QB Drake Lindsey studies Rams offense, Matt Stafford
