At what price Drake Lindsey?
University of Minnesota redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey is certainly a player of interest to other major college football programs. In his first season as a starter he has made his presence known playing the most valued position in football.
The transfer portal has in recent years ignited a massive movement of players in college football like never before. That, of course, includes gifted quarterbacks such as Kansas State transfer Will Howard who last season led Ohio State to the national championship. California transfer Fernando Mendoza is in position to do the same this year playing for undefeated Indiana.
Lindsey has been pivotal to Minnesota’s success. Playing behind a struggling offensive line and with an okay receiver corps, he has led Minnesota to close wins over Rutgers, Purdue and Michigan State. The Gophers, 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten games, won those games by a total of 13 points. Lindsey has been a clutch performer in big moments including in the overtime victory against Michigan State last week when he rallied the offense late in the fourth quarter and scored the winning touchdown in OT.
If Lindsey is interested in offers from other schools, he could attract more money from wealthy programs than the Gophers can pony up. ESPN.com’s Max Olson reported back in August that based on a survey of agents and college football general managers the going rate for quarterbacks for the 2025 season was $1 million to $2 million. “The great ones,” the story said, are around $3 million.
The price probably goes up (like most everything else) in 2026 and players will see that before and when the transfer portal window opens in January.
Lindsey rates with the better freshman quarterbacks in the nation (see Tom Luginbill’s October 9 ESPN.com story) and his value is discernible even to a layman. He has completed 62.2 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,743 yards. He has 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He has for the most part played with poise and precision in both passing and running the team.
The production and potential of the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Lindsey has drawn the praise of many observers including former Gopher record-setting quarterback Tanner Morgan. In September he told Sports Headliners that Lindsey could be a coveted NFL Draft choice, perhaps as soon as the end of next season. By then Lindsey will be draft eligible. “I am really excited about him and what he can become,” Morgan said.
Lindsey’s competitiveness, personality and character have significantly impacted the program. He is seen as a leader but also as a young player eager to learn from others. This curiosity to know more and play better is exemplified by his relationship with Max Brosmer, last year’s Gopher starter who continues to mentor the Arkansas native.
With at least two more seasons of college eligibility, make no mistake that other programs will line up to woo Lindsey if they’re encouraged. He might not be interested, though.
Unlike many college players, Lindsey doesn’t come from an impoverished family. His father is a successful real estate entrepreneur. And in the recruiting process Lindsey formed a bond with Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck and offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. Those relationships are believed to remain strong.
If Lindsey was discouraged about winning games at Minnesota that might prompt a change in residence. Such a mindset is unlikely in place right now. The Gophers might finish the season with an 8-4 record and earn a quality bowl invitation. Next season a core group of outstanding players is eligible to return and with Lindsey produce an even better season. Good players think optimistically, and Lindsey’s view is likely that he can play a significant role in achieving even a stellar season.
The Gophers and other Power 4 programs pay players through revenue sharing from their athletic departments. Players are also significantly compensated through Name, Image and Likeness money they earn for activities such as social media influencing and personal appearances.
At Minnesota and other Power 4 programs around the country compensation to college football players is unknown. But sources talk as evident in the ESPN August story referenced above. And other reports include the rumored NIL money of $10 million or more to bring prize freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood to Michigan for this season and beyond.
Sports Headliners asked the University of Minnesota via the discovery process for specifics regarding revenue share money and its disbursement to players. The reply included this: “Any data we may have regarding payments to individual student-athletes is protected under MN Stat. 13.32 (private student data).”
The Gopher athletic department, per media reports, is believed to be allocating about $15 million to football players in 2025. Many Gophers also have NIL deals, too, including preseason All-American safety Koi Perich and star running back Darius Taylor. The two appear together in a local TV ad for Park Chrysler Jeep.
The way it looks for 2026, Lindsey—now a proven performer at football’s most important position—will be the highest compensated Gopher ever, perhaps earning seven figures in just revenue share money. To retain him, a total package (including NIL money) of $1.2 to $1.5 million could be necessary, with rival programs willing and able to do more.
That guesstimate is made mostly, but not entirely, on the figures in the August ESPN story: “College football 2025: How much does each position cost?” https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46050629/college-football-2025-position-cost-transfers
Without wide receivers who are fast and can catch, I’ll bet he knows the future.