The 2024 NFL Draft Could Greatly Impact the Futures of These Four Vikings Players
Josh Frey
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In just over 48 hours, the 2024 NFL Draft will begin.
This spring’s draft has heavy implications for the Minnesota Vikings for the future. Not only that, the players on the current roster could see drastic role changes over the next few days depending on the decisions that the Vikings make in this year’s draft.
Here is a look at four of those players.
QB Nick Mullens
The assumption throughout this spring has been that the Minnesota Vikings will trade up and select a quarterback in this spring’s draft. The remaining questions revolve around the team that will be Minnesota’s trade partner, and the prospect that the Vikings will select.
If that does indeed come to fruition, it could put Nick Mullens’ future with the Vikings into murky waters. It will mean the Vikings have four QBs on their roster:
- Their first-round pick
- Sam Darnold, who was signed in free agency
- Jaren Hall, last spring’s fifth-round pick
- Mullens
Mullens’ place on the roster becomes rather unclear if this depth chart comes to fruition, particularly considering he is set to become a free agent next offseason.
WR Jalen Nailor
K.J. Osborn obviously left the Vikings this offseason, signing a new contract with the New England Patriots. That leaves a void on Minnesota’s roster at the WR3 position. Minnesota obviously has two of the best wide receivers in the league with Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson, but the door could be opening for Jalen Nailor to finally garner a larger role in the offense.
That is, if the Vikings don’t opt to take another receiver in the middle rounds of the draft. Minnesota currently has four picks in either the fourth or fifth rounds, and given the sheer amount of talent at WR in this draft, they could snatch up a quality playmaker in either of those rounds. If that were to happen, Nailor might take a backseat once again in 2024.
CB Akayleb Evans
Akayleb Evans held down a starting role for much of the 2023 season, but he certainly went through some shaky moments, particularly down the stretch of the year. Minnesota has already brought in Shaq Griffin, who has been a proficient starter on the boundary over the years. They also selected Mekhi Blackmon last spring, who played almost exclusively as a boundary CB last year.
Evans currently should be slated to take on a sizeable role in Minnesota’s defense this season, but what if the Vikings end up taking another cornerback in the middle rounds of the draft? The third-year player’s role could change rather quickly.
OL Blake Brandel
The Vikings’ offensive line is a sneaky storyline this offseason. Not only do the Vikings only employ three offensive tackles at the moment, but they still don’t have a starting left guard set in stone, either. Blake Brandel spent his first couple years as a depth tackle before switching to right guard in 2023.
As a result, it would make sense for Brandel to take on the left guard job in 2024 (or right guard with Ed Ingram switching over to the left side). However, that theory could be challenged if the Vikings opt to take an offensive lineman in the draft.
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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.