Drake Lindsey
Minnesota#70 overallDraft Movement
Up 27 spots since Jul 6
Scouting Report
Drake Lindsey grew up in a Razorback family in Fayetteville, where his grandfather played on Arkansas' 1964 national title team and his father caught passes for the Hogs, and his hometown program never offered him. Minnesota did, becoming his first Power Four offer before his senior year. He had earned it: the 2023 Arkansas MaxPreps Player of the Year threw 54 touchdowns against three interceptions while leading Fayetteville to a 13-0 state championship. After a redshirt, he started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2025, throwing for 2,382 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions, completing 63 percent with 14 big-time throws, and setting a Minnesota freshman record with eight wins. He wins with processing and timing rather than raw arm talent, keeping the offense on schedule, rarely forcing the issue from a clean pocket, and throwing with anticipation into tight intermediate windows. His four-touchdown, 264-yard game against Northwestern is the signature outing. The limitations are physical. His deep arm is below average and cross-field throws need more velocity to arrive on time, while lazy footwork and an off-platform habit surface under pressure. He struggled badly against the best defenses he faced, combining for one touchdown and three interceptions across the Ohio State, Iowa and Oregon games, with a three-pick night at Iowa the low point. He has multiple years of eligibility, so 2026 defines him.
The Tape
Strengths
- Plays on time, with processing and timing ahead of his raw tools
- keeps the offense on schedule and rarely forces the issue from clean pockets
- throws with anticipation into tight intermediate windows
- 14 big-time throws as a redshirt freshman
- set a Minnesota freshman record with eight wins as a 13-game starter
- carved Northwestern for four scores on 264 yards
- sturdy pocket presence who stands in and delivers over the middle
- prototype 6-5, 230 frame
Weaknesses
- Below-average deep arm, and cross-field throws need more velocity to arrive on time
- lazy footwork and an off-platform habit show up under pressure
- struggled badly against elite defenses, one touchdown and three interceptions across the Ohio State, Iowa and Oregon games
- worst night came at Iowa with three interceptions and no scores
- 63 percent completion rate leaves room for accuracy growth
- 2,382 yards is modest volume for a full season of starts
- lightly recruited three-star whose traits may cap the ceiling
NFL Comparison
Kyle Trask timing-and-processing pocket passer with an ordinary deep ball; Spencer Rattler size and rhythm without top-end arm; Tanner McKee stand-in-the-pocket profile
College Stats
2024: redshirt; 2025 (RS Fr): 13 G/13 starts, 2,382 pass yds, 18 TD, 6 INT, 63.0 pct, 14 big-time throws, Minnesota freshman record 8 wins; 264 yds and 4 TD vs Northwestern; 1 TD and 3 INT combined vs Ohio State, Iowa and Oregon
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $2.94M on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Minnesota's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
The college fantasy model projects 11.8 PPG (QB46), after 12.1 PPG across 12 games last year.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Measurables
Awards & Honors
2023 Arkansas MaxPreps Player of the Year; Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree in 2025; Minnesota freshman record for wins by a starting quarterback