Mel Kiper Goes against the Grain for Vikings in First 2024 NFL Mock Draft
Over the years, Mel Kiper of ESPN has been one of the most well-known NFL Draft minds across the league.
On Tuesday morning, the analyst released his first mock draft for 2024, and there are a couple notable occurrences within the mock. Firstly, the first three selections were all quarterbacks, including the Chicago Bears taking Caleb Williams with the first overall pick.
If this were to happen in the actual draft, the Vikings likely would need to pivot towards a different position with the 11th overall pick, and that is exactly what Kiper did in this mock. Instead of having Minnesota reach for another quarterback, the analyst opted to send the Vikings Clemson CB Nate Wiggins.
Mel Kiper Throws the Vikings a Curveball in 2024 Mock Draft
Wiggins was a two-year starter with the Tigers, and throughout his career, he totaled 60 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, 21 passes defended, three interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles.
Here is how Kiper defended the selection:
In my final mock ahead of the 2023 draft, I projected the Vikings taking a cornerback. Instead, they went with wide receiver Jordan Addison, who had a fantastic rookie season, catching 10 touchdown passes. That need in the secondary still exists. Minnesota ranked 28th in passing yards allowed to receivers last season (3,019), and 2022 second-rounder Andrew Booth Jr. hasn’t quite figured things out. Let’s go back to Clemson — Booth’s former school — with the selection of Wiggins here. Wiggins was a lockdown defender in 2023, allowing just 4.2 yards per attempt as the nearest defender in coverage.
Could the Vikings take a quarterback? For sure. Kirk Cousins is a free agent, and I don’t think rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Hall will be the guy long-term. At this point, though, the most likely option might be running it back with Cousins, so adding a starter on defense makes more sense. This obviously could change as we learn more about general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s plans.
Indeed, the need for extra help in the secondary exists for the Vikings. This became abundantly clear after Mekhi Blackmon and Byron Murphy suffered injuries down the stretch of the season, forcing players like Andrew Booth, UDFA Jaylin Williams, and Joejuan Williams to take snaps with the defense down the stretch of the year.
Ironically enough, yours truly actually did a Vikings mock draft a few weeks ago that also had Minnesota selecting Wiggins. However, this move was made alongside a trade down in the first round with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who, at the time, were projected with the 19th overall pick. In return, the Vikings picked up Wiggins with that 19th overall pick as well as the 83rd overall pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The idea behind the trade was that the Buccaneers would trade up to snag a QB prospect while the Vikings get a third-round pick to utilize later on in the draft and help rebuild their roster for 2024 in order to make one more run with Cousins as the starter.
If the Vikings are going to pivot away from the QB position, Wiggins certainly would be a strong option with their first-round pick. The cornerback was a spectacular player at Clemson, and PFF suggested that on 41 targets during the 2023 season, he allowed just 18 receptions for 176 yards and a single touchdown.
His playmaking ability could be the jolt necessary for Minnesota’s defense to take the next step during the 2024 season.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Sports Reference CFB and Pro Football Focus.
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.
