J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Dallas Hunter, Edge, Alabama
The Vikings had no picks on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Their second round pick was sent to the Houston Texans earlier in the offseason in the trade that gave the Vikings a second first round pick in this draft. Their third round pick was sent to Detroit two years ago in the trade that brought tight end T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota. In that sense, the Vikings two day haul in the 2024 NFL Draft looks more like this.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
Not bad. Not bad at all. Of course, McCarthy and Turner have yet to play an NFL game. Who knows what they’ll be as NFL players. That does nothing to dampen the excitement for the possibilities in Minnesota.
It isn’t a surprise that the Vikings came out of Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft with a quarterback.That was imperative. After watching Kirk Cousins depart for the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings had to draft a quarterback in the first round. There was no room for a mid-round flier. They had to select a quarterback early in the first round. They had made that trade with the Texans to add an extra first round pick to help make it happen. At #11, they had to move into the top 10. Over 63 drafts, the Vikings had never selected a quarterback in the top 10. This had to be the year that changed. So, all of the expectations had the Vikings coming out of Day 1 with a quarterback at the expense of that second first and perhaps even next year’s first. The Vikings did get their quarterback. J.J. McCarthy. What wasn’t expected was that they got their quarterback without having to give the high-end assets. They still had the second first this year and their first next year.
The quarterback was the most important draft addition but it’s the selection of Dallas Turner that makes the Vikings draft haul the beautiful bounty that it is. I can’t recall many mock drafts that didn’t have Turner selected in the top 10. If he did make it out, he didn’t make it far. There was no way he’d still be on the board when the draft made it’s way to the Vikings second first at #23. Technically, he didn’t make it to #23 as a trade up to #17 was required to secure him. I had plenty of dreamy draft day scenarios in which the Vikings somehow managed to maintain both firsts and select two difference-makers. All of them included McCarthy. None of them included Turner. There were many with Byron Murphy II. Several with Penn State edge Chop Robinson. A few with Terrion Arnold. None with Turner. That was because there was no way he’d make it to a second first round pick. It’s impossible to select two top 10 players with two picks that aren’t in the top 10. The Vikings started Day 1 with picks #11 and #23. They made their selections at #10 and #17. Somehow, the Vikings were able to add J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner. Beautiful.
It’s rough to sit out an entire round in the NFL Draft. It’s even more rough to sit out an entire night and two rounds of drafting. The Vikings enter Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft with five picks.
4 (108)
6 (177)
6 (203)
7 (230)
7 (232)
Unless there’s some wheeling and dealing, the Vikings are scheduled to sit out an another round, the fifth. Oregon defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus is still on the board and is immediately tempting. If he’s still there at #108, oh my, that would be tempting. However, it’s probably better to trade back a bit and add an extra pick, or two. McCarthy and Turner are wonderful additions but this Vikings team still has many holes. Defensive line, interior offensive line, cornerback, and general depth come to mind. Whatever happens, after sitting out Day 2, it’ll be fun to see the Minnesota Vikings back on the clock.
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