It’s Another Big Trade for the Vikings in Latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft
Last week, Joe Broback of Pro Football Network put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard?) for a 2024 NFL mock draft which had the Minnesota Vikings trading all the way up to No. 1 overall.
With that pick, Broback had the Vikings selecting QB Drake Maye out of the University of North Carolina. Once again, PFN has the Vikings making a big trade in their latest mock draft (this time written by Wil Helms), and this time, Minnesota makes a move to No. 2 with the Washington Commanders trading back to No. 11.
With the second overall selection, the Vikings select LSU QB Jayden Daniels.
Another Big Trade for the Vikings in Latest Mock Draft
In the trade, the Washington Commanders received the No. 11 overall pick as well as Nos. 42 and 155 in 2024 and Minnesota’s 2025 first and third round selections. Here is how Helms defended the trade:
With Williams off the board, we’ll throw another change into the order of the top three quarterbacks. Rather than having the Commanders take Maye to replace fellow Tar Heel Sam Howell, we’ll have them trade down and ride with the incumbent starter for one more year — depending on how the board falls later.
Again, mock drafts are a game of information. Sources expect the Vikings to be aggressive in the draft in their search for a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal.
Jayden Daniels can make every throw and has elite athleticism. If the Vikings put a guy with his upside in an offense with Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson, they’ll have the chance to contend for a Super Bowl if the LSU quarterback reaches his potential.
There certainly has been buzz regarding the Vikings looking to be aggressive in the 2024 draft. It makes a lot of sense with veteran Kirk Cousins set to hit free agency in March and entering his age-36 season after his season-ending Achilles tear back in October.
In addition, there has been buzz that Cousins could be looking to get big money with his next contract, and if he is opposed to taking a discount for the Vikings, it could spell the end of his time in Minnesota.
As a result, the Vikings will be left with just Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens on the roster at the QB position, and they will need to find a serviceable starter in order to maximize the final year of Justin Jefferson’s rookie contract.
Since transferring to LSU from Arizona State, Daniels has been one of the most prolific quarterbacks in all of college football. During his first year with the Tigers, he threw for 2913 yards along with 17 TDs and 3 INTs while rushing for 890 yards and an additional 12 TDs. Those are already impressive numbers for a player in their first year with a program, but 2023 was a truly magical season for Daniels. The QB totaled over 5000 total yards between passing and rushing along with 50 total touchdowns.
Daniels possesses a rocket of an arm which allows him to spread the ball across all three levels of the field, and he throws accurately as well. His average depth of target was 10.5 yards this season, ranking 17th among 86 QBs in college football with at least 300 drop backs, per PFF.
Even with a clear emphasis on throwing downfield, Daniels completed 72.2% of his passes during the regular season, the seventh-best in college football. This is a result of the QB’s truly beautiful deep ball that he can lay into receivers’ arms with ease.
Vikings fans have long been clamoring for a dynamic quarterback who can impact an offense with both his arm and legs. Daniels could be that precise player.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Focus and Sports Reference CFB.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.