Minnesota Vikings Midweek Draft Dip

I try to avoid draft thoughts until after the season is over. If I’m thinking about the draft, I feel like I’m writing off the season. It’s silly. With their Week 13 bye week, I couldn’t help having some draft thoughts. It probably helped that The Athletic’s Dane Brugler dropped his first mock draft last week. It also doesn’t help that the Minnesota Vikings will have a big quarterback decision to make this offseason. The 2024 NFL Draft projects to have a decent number of interesting quarterbacks. All of this was enough to take a midweek dip into the draft. 

The 2024 NFL Draft will be topped by two quarterbacks.

Caleb Williams, USC

Drake Maye, North Carolina

In his mock draft, Dane Brugler has Caleb Williams going to the Chicago Bears with the first pick and Drake Maye to the New England Patriots with the third pick. The Vikings would have to trade a boatload of picks to jump into the conversation for either quarterback. 

If the Vikings are looking for their future quarterback in this draft, the possibilities probably start with the following.

Jayden Daniels, LSU

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Twin Cities sports reporter Darren Wolfson has Vikings connections within TCO Performance Center. He recently revealed that some Vikings decision-makers are fans of Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy. I liked hearing that as I’d be thrilled if either quarterback is on the Vikings roster next season. 

After Daniels and McCarthy:

Bo Nix, Oregon

Michael Penix Jr., Washington 

At the start of the college season, I was leaning Michael Penix Jr. In more recent weeks, I’ve been leaning Bo Nix. 

If the Vikings do select a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, I’m glad that former quarterback and current Vikings head coach Kevini O’Connell will be a big part of making that decision. 

Outside of quarterback, and before they do anything in free agency, I see the following as the Vikings biggest offseason needs. 

Interior defensive line

Edge rusher

Cornerback

Left guard

Those needs translate into the following college players topping my non-quarterback wish list:

Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

Graham Barton, OG, Duke

Brugler has the Vikings selecting Jer’Zhan Newton in the first round of his mock draft. 

Now, back to the Vikings Week 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders and the rest of the 2023 NFL season.