Latest 2024 NFL Mock Drafts Suggest the Vikings Will Trade the Farm for a QB
Josh Frey
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On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings made a stunning move by trading with the Houston Texans to acquire the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Most notably, the trade also included Minnesota’s second-round pick this spring (No. 42 overall) as well as their 2025 second-rounder. Seeing as the Vikings now hold both Nos. 11 and 23 in the first round, this trade feels it could be a precursor for another move up the board to target a quarterback.
2024 NFL Mock Drafts Suggest the Vikings Will Target a QB
Many mock drafts in the past 24 hours have reflected a similar sentiment. For instance, Kyle Stackpole of CBS Sports posted a new mock draft on Saturday morning that had the Vikings trading up to the No. 3 selection, sending over both the 11th and 23rd overall picks to the New England Patriots.
With that pick, Stackpole has the Vikings selecting QB Drake Maye out of North Carolina after the Chicago Bears took Caleb Williams, and the Washington Commanders selected Jayden Daniels. Here is his reasoning behind the trade and selection:
“Of teams with top-three picks, it seems as though the Patriots have the weakest roster. So, while New England badly wants to find a long-term successor to Tom Brady, it opts to trade back eight spots and acquire valuable assets it can use to build out its team under new head coach Jerod Mayo. Meanwhile, the Vikings get their Kirk Cousins replacement in Drake Maye using the second first-round pick they gained in a trade with the Texans.”
Stackpole isn’t the only person to believe that the Vikings have a path towards landing Maye, though. Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network suggested the exact same path for the Vikings this spring. Cummings has the Vikings sending Nos. 11 and 23 along with their 2025 first-round pick to move up to No. 3 and select Maye.
“I see the Vikings as a team willing to sell the farm for Maye. They were reportedly willing to go in big for Anthony Richardson in 2023, and they’re loading up after their trade with the Texans. With Kirk Cousins gone, they need to pounce on the opportunity to add a passer like Maye — even if it means a short-term capital hit. If you’re a Vikings fan and you’re asking me, I think Maye is easily worth the price. He’s one of the highest-graded QBs I’ve ever evaluated — pairing prototypical size and athleticism with elite arm strength, elasticity, and high-level anticipation and leverage IQ. He’d thrive in Minnesota’s system with the weapons they have,” Cummings wrote.
Indeed, the Vikings do look like a team poised to find success with a young quarterback. Wide receivers Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson create one of the most dangerous duos in the NFL, and Minnesota finally has seemed to begin figuring things out across their offensive line over the past couple years.
For now, though, the Vikings have not made a trade and hold two top-25 picks in this spring’s draft. Even if Minnesota is unable to find a way to trade up the board, two immediate contributors with those draft selections (Johnny Newton and Terrion Arnold, for instance) would be a pretty sweet consolation prize.
Regardless, it looks like this should be a very fun spring to be a Vikings fan.
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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.