The 2018 Draft is a deep one for quarterbacks, with up to five or six prospects being called first-round talents by analysts across the league.
According to NFL.com's Marc Sessler, this year's draft "offers the deepest pool of potential franchise quarterbacks we've seen all century." With that in mind, Sessler updated his **ranking of each quarterback class since 2000**.
A handful of signal callers who have lined up under center for the Vikings are included in the rankings, including Kirk Cousins, who signed with Minnesota to kick off free agency. Cousins was drafted in 2012 by Washington, and Sessler ranked the class as the third-best since the turn of the millennium. Here's a refresher:
Round 1: Andrew Luck (No. 1), Robert Griffin III (No. 2), Ryan Tannehill (No. 8), Brandon Weeden (No. 22)
Round 2: Brock Osweiler (No. 57)
Round 3: Russell Wilson (No. 75), Nick Foles (No. 88)
Round 4: Kirk Cousins (No. 102)
Round 6: Ryan Lindley (No. 185)
Round 7: B.J. Coleman (No. 243), Chandler Harnish (No. 253)
Sessler said the class "had a chance to be remembered as an equal to the all-star cast from 2004 – maybe even 1983." He wrote the following of Cousins:
*The Redskins missed on Griffin but ultimately found a starter in the same draft by nabbing Kirk Cousins in the fourth round. Who knew he'd become the prize of free agency in 2018 and Minnesota's hope for a Super Bowl crown? *
Sessler said that Luck "has the chance to be one of the game's true greats" if he returns to full health and that Griffin, who recently signed with Baltimore as a backup, "was the most exciting quarterback in football" as a rookie before suffering a significant knee injury that derailed his career. He added that the Seahawks "altered their franchise by taking a chance" on Wilson.
Adding in Tannehill and Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles, Sessler said, "this emerges as a wildly productive class."
Coming in at No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, Sessler tabbed the 2005 class (Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers) and the 2004 class (Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger) as the top quarterback groupings in the past 18 years.
Cousins, Watson to be featured instructors at Virginia youth camp
Earlier this week, Cousins **posted on Twitter** about his upcoming youth football camp, which will be held at Hope College in Michigan at the end of June.
Just before his own camp kicks off, however, Cousins will be a featured instructor at another youth football event, this one in Virginia. According to the William and Mary athletics site, Cousins and Texas QB Deshaun Watson will be the **guest instructors at the Colonial All-Pro Football Camp**, which will be held June 24-27.
Watson was the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and made a splash through his first seven games with the Texans before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Cousins and Watson will work with young football players ages 8 through high school seniors. This year will mark the 25th annual Colonial All-Pro Camp, which has previously featured other big names in football, including former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre.
Vikings continue giving back during offseason
Numerous Vikings players are active in the Minnesota community throughout the season.
Many of them continue that commitment while taking a break from football, which gives them the opportunity to move beyond the immediate Twin Cities area.
Recently, safety Jack Tocho visited The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte. Tocho is a native of Charlotte himself and spent time with youth at the Milton Road location.
On Thursday, wide receiver Adam Thielen spoke to students at River Falls High School in Wisconsin about his NFL journey. Thielen specifically **shared about his gym, ETS Thielen**.
