Inside The Vikings

Vikings Select BYU QB Jaren Hall With Pick 164 in Fifth Round of 2023 NFL Draft

The Vikings have a new developmental quarterback in Hall, who some thought would go earlier.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Select BYU QB Jaren Hall With Pick 164 in Fifth Round of 2023 NFL Draft
Vikings Select BYU QB Jaren Hall With Pick 164 in Fifth Round of 2023 NFL Draft

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Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings selected BYU quarterback Jaren Hall with the 164th pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Hall is the 12th QB taken through the first five rounds of this year's draft, and the seventh so far on Day 3. He's a prospect that some analysts thought would go higher, but some medical concerns reportedly contributed to his fall into the back half of the fifth round.

After taking over for Zach Wilson in 2021 as the first Black starting quarterback in BYU history, Hall lit up the Mountain West for two years. He completed over 65 percent of his passes, throwing for over 5,700 yards with a stellar 51 to 11 touchdown to interception ratio. Hall, an athletic dual threat, also added 657 rushing yards and six touchdowns and even caught four passes over the past two years, including a touchdown reception.

Standing 6'1", 207 pounds, Hall doesn't have great size, but he makes up for it with athleticism, poise, strong processing ability, and accuracy.

Hall is an efficient QB who can make plays on the run. He has solid arm talent and clean mechanics, and he navigates the pocket well, taking just 12 sacks last season. Already 25 years old, he's married and has a family. The concerns with Hall are a lack of elite arm strength and issues with fumbles and durability.

Here's the scouting report from The Athletic's Dane Brugler:

A two-year starter at BYU, Hall was a multi-sport athlete for the Cougars and played in offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick’s balanced scheme. The first African-American starting quarterback in school history, he replaced Zach Wilson and posted an outstanding 51-to-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio the past two seasons. A compactly-built athlete with strong character, Hall is poised in the pocket and a smooth operator on the move to make plays with his arm or legs. He won’t benefit from as many scheme-winners at the next level and will need to improve his passing anticipation to push the ball versus NFL defenses. Overall, Hall is a cerebral, dual-threat passer with above average control and efficiency in his process, but his average arm talent, short stature and injury history are potential road blocks. He has NFL backup potential in an RPO-based, play-action offense.     

With the Vikings, Hall becomes the No. 3 quarterback behind Kirk Cousins and Nick Mullens. He'll look to develop under Kevin O'Connell and the rest of Minnesota's coaching staff.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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