Draft Expert Reflects on Rankings, Offers Insight on Vikings’ Top Picks
The 2024 NFL Draft was an exciting one for the Vikings. True, Day 2 was difficult to sit through, but the Day 1 haul was impressive: QB J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 and EDGE Dallas Turner at No. 17.
Draft expert Dane Brugler does his work for The Athletic. On Tuesday, he offered a piece that reconsiders his “top-50 ranking from last August.” Brugler’s objective is to be “transparent” as he reflects on the normal changes in opinion that can occur: “A preseason top 50 is a starting point and this look-back exercise helps illustrate each prospect’s journey from where they started to where they finished. Fluctuations are expected when new evidence is presented during the season and pre-draft process.”
The Draft Expert and The Vikings Picks
A surprise to some, perhaps, but Turner comes in ahead of McCarthy.
Brugler originally put the Alabama edge rusher at 9th in his ranking before eventually dropping him down to 14th. The insight: “Similar to [Jared] Verse, Turner didn’t quite have the ‘wow’ 2023 season to punch his ticket as a no-doubt top-10 pick. But he played at a high level that put him in the conversation to be the first defensive player drafted. Ultimately, Turner was the third defensive player taken, behind Laiatu Latu and Byron Murphy II.”
Coming around to quarterback, Brugler had J.J. McCarthy at 19th. Gathering more information and assessing the class more broadly led to the draft expert moving the Michigan passer down to 21st.
“From start to finish,” Brugler clarifies, “my thoughts (and ranking) of McCarthy stayed consistent. Once he became Michigan’s starter in 2022, it was clear he had the physical tools and intangibles to become an NFL starter. His evaluation was always going to feel incomplete in a run-focused offense, but that didn’t take away from McCarthy’s enticing upside.”
The Vikings are certainly hoping that the “enticing upside” turns into an impressive reality. McCarthy has tons of talent, but he’ll need to prove he can be a franchise QB.
The Vikings’ next pick arrived at No. 108 when they opted for CB Khyree Jackson, who recently agreed to his rookie deal with Minnesota. It’s no surprise, then, that Minnesota only sees Turner and McCarthy included in the Brugler piece.
For whatever it’s worth, quarterback Caleb Williams — chosen by the Bears at No. 1 — began in the top spot and stuck around in the top spot: “Williams started at No. 1, finished at No. 1 — and was drafted No. 1.”
On the other end of things is someone like corner Kalen King, who was listed at 11th before dropping down to 189th in Brugler’s final ranking. The Packers drafted King at 255th overall.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.
