The Pros and Cons of the Vikings Drafting a QB in 2024
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings are one of the teams expected to pursue a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft.
There have been reports that they are willing to move large amounts of assets if they are able to land a quarterback that they deem as being a franchise-QB-level of talent. With Kirk Cousins entering free agency, now seems like the perfect time to snatch that quarterback of the future. If the Vikings do opt to take a quarterback in this spring’s draft, here are a few pros and cons of doing so.
Pro: Younger, Cheaper Option
First and foremost, any rookie quarterback in the draft will be significantly cheaper than what it will take to keep Cousins around. The Vikings will have to eat $28.5 million in dead money if Cousins walks, but that is the last pill they’d have to swallow with the veteran QB.
Meanwhile, if they were to offer Cousins a new contract, it would likely push more money under his name into 2025 and potentially 2026 depending on the length of his deal. Bringing in a QB on a rookie contract would free them up to be big spenders next offseason.
Con: The Draft Capital
It can’t be overstated that, especially if the Vikings were to trade up for a QB like Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or Caleb Williams, it would take an exorbitant amount of draft capital in order to do that. There will be multiple first-round picks involved and probably other picks in the 2024 Draft in order to move up high enough to select a quarterback.
The biggest problem with doing that would be the fact that the Vikings have multiple holes to fill on this current roster. This isn’t quite a situation where the Vikings are “a quarterback away” from being contenders in the NFC. They need to plug holes on the defensive line, at cornerback, and potentially at running back. Moving large amounts of draft capital for a QB makes it very difficult to do that.
Pro: Excitement for the Future
The best part of bringing in a new rookie quarterback is the allure of what that player could become. There would be a lot of excitement in Minnesota for this next quarterback prospect, seeing as many fans have wanted to land a young star at the position for years.
There isn’t really a better time to try to find that star than now, considering there could be upwards of six QBs in the running for first-round selections in April. If the Vikings want to bring excitement to their franchise, this is the time to do it.
Con: What if It Doesn’t Work?
There is always the possibility that a QB prospect simply doesn’t work out. We’ve seen it happen multiple times with prospects like Sam Darnold, Mac Jones, Mitchell Trubisky, etc. Of course, that is a risk at any position, but it is almost imperative that the Vikings hit their selection at QB this spring, especially if they trade up.
It isn’t quite as simple as “try again next year” if the Vikings are forced to give up multiple first-round picks. They likely won’t have a first-round selection in 2025 if they make such a trade, and their 2026 pick could be in play as well.
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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.