Drake Lindsey (quarterback, Minnesota) is entering his redshirt sophomore season in 2026. This didn’t prevent CBS Sports’ Draft Analyst Mike Renner from mocking him at number four overall in a recent 2027 mock draft. Does the tape match this lofty projection?
Drake Lindsey 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Measurables
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 230 lbs
The Tape
Games Watched: at California, at Iowa, and at Oregon.
Strengths
Lindsey has prototypical NFL quarterback size, so he has no problem seeing over his line. His pocket presence is strong, and he will stand in and take a hit. That commanding presence is also on show pre-snap as he’s a strong communicator.
While not consistent, there are flashes of Lindsey being able to drive the ball into tight windows. He can make throws that can’t be taught and are exciting.
This is the kind of play from Drake Lindsey that gets you excited. He's got lots to work on, but you can't teach this kind of throw.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/qCp68lq5w7
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) July 12, 2026
Lindsey doesn’t always throw the fastball, though. He takes something off shorter passes to make them more catchable. His touch is good and shows an understanding of the game.
Minnesota runs what is fast becoming a common NFL offense. They feature the tight end and like to establish the run. On the back of that, they then like to use play action fakes, in many cases with Lindsey under center. Lindsey does a nice job of ball handling and getting his head around quickly post-fake.
There are flashes of getting through his progressions quickly. One area that is more consistent is his willingness to check down. The old adage, “You can’t go broke making a profit,” is understood by Lindsey and his coaches.
Areas to Improve
Given that Lindsey is a redshirt sophomore, there are multiple things he needs to improve. He has the time to do so, of course.
The key area for him to improve is his weight transfer. Even from clean pockets, his weight is a little too much on his back foot. This prevents him from stepping into throws and snapping his hips as he throws. Some of his passes then lack zip. It’s also the reason why his arm strength is only there in flashes.
This is a clean pocket for Drake Lindsey, but it's not a good pass. His weight is too much on his back foot. It's an area for him to improve in 2026.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/arYvXYrUks
— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) July 12, 2026
His footwork in the pocket also needs work. He is a big man, but he’s not an elite athlete, and even in the pocket his feet look heavy. Going through his progressions isn’t a smooth process for his feet. Lindsey would benefit from some drills to lighten his feet. Playing with an evenly distributed base will also help this area. If this improves, he will look much better climbing the pocket and delivering passes.
Lindsey can also hold the ball too long and take too long to get through his progressions. Experience will improve this area, so it’s not a massive concern at this stage of his development. If this area is unchanged as he enters the NFL, it would be a major concern. Right now, his eyes lead defensive backs to the ball, and NFL defenses would be a struggle for him.
While Lindsey will hang in the pocket and take a hit, at times, pressure causes mistakes. He can rush to his next read and throw before being sacked. This leads to dangerous throws. At times, his eyes drop under the pressure, and he takes sacks.
Lindsey is a limited athlete and is not a threat to run. While the NFL prefers processors over pure athletes, quarterbacks still need enough functional mobility to survive. Lindsey’s is toward the lower end of the NFL spectrum.
There is the odd flash of throwing with anticipation, but this is an area he needs to improve. At the moment, he throws to receivers rather than throwing them open. Again, this should improve with experience.
Key Tests in 2026
Minnesota has avoided Ohio State and Oregon on the schedule in 2026. However, they face the reigning National Champions, Indiana, in Bloomington on October 31. That follows hosting Iowa, a game last year in which Lindsey threw three interceptions.
Other tests include Mississippi State (September 12), at Washington (September 26), a tough Michigan defense (October 3), and at Penn State (November 14).
There are enough tests here for scouts to be able to judge Lindsey’s improvement.
The full schedule can be found here.
Drake Lindsey 2027 NFL Draft Projection
Lindsey is still a young college quarterback, with one year of starting experience. This shows in several areas of his game. However, time is on his side. Just because CBS Sports mocks him at number four overall doesn’t mean he is there yet or mean he’s ready for the NFL. It’s also not written in stone that he can’t take a massive jump in 2026 and improve on all the areas listed. His story is not written yet.
There are tantalizing flashes of an NFL quarterback, but he has a long way to go before he’s ready for the league. He has three years of eligibility remaining and could even consider a transfer down the road to play with a stronger supporting cast.
For right now, he has upside and makes some throws that excite, but his mechanics and processing need to improve significantly before he should be talked about as a top ten pick.
Main Photo: [Mark J. Rebilas] – Imagn Images
