The Vikings Are “More Likely” to Pick at Nos. 11 and 23 Rather than Trade, Says One Insider
Josh Frey
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Vikings fans have long expected Minnesota to make a big trade up the board in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With Kirk Cousins no longer in the building, the Vikings need a long-term solution at the quarterback position and trading up in the draft might be the most seamless way to fill that need, considering Minnesota owns the 11th and 23rd overall picks this spring.
However, one insider has suggested on Wednesday morning that the Vikings may not have such luck when the first round begins.
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That insider is Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report who shared some last-minute draft notes ahead of the event. Schultz shared a litany of information via a tweet, including this little tidbit on the Vikings’ draft plans: “[The] Vikings [are] more likely to keep 11+23 at this point, though they continue to explore all options.”
The reasoning behind this idea is fairly simple. Minnesota’s potential trade partners seem content to simply stay put and select the best players available on their boards if they don’t receive a massive trade offer.
Schultz mentioned that Arizona is “more than happy” to stay put at No. 4 and select WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison looks like the best wide receiver prospect in this class, and the Cardinals certainly need a WR1 for Kyler Murray to throw to. Meanwhile, the Chargers could stay put at No. 5 and select an offensive tackle to pair with Rashawn Slater.
If that scenario were to play out, the Vikings may be out of luck in terms of trading up for a QB. Then, they’d simply have to hold their breath and hope that the New York Giants don’t take J.J. McCarthy or Drake Maye (whichever player falls out of the top three) with the sixth overall pick.
Furthermore, there has been additional reporting this week that makes it seem like the Vikings may have a tough time getting into the top three picks. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote the following on what he has been hearing:
“I’d be pretty surprised at this point if the top three picks don’t go like this—USC’s Caleb Williams to the Chicago Bears, LSU’s Jayden Daniels to the Washington Commanders, and North Carolina’s Drake Maye to the New England Patriots. I’d be stunned if the Commanders moved off 2, and, at this point, almost as surprised if the Patriots moved off 3, even with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings presumed to be fans of Maye.”
However, according to Breer’s theory, all hope isn’t lost for the Vikings in terms of drafting a quarterback. “As I see it, the Vikings are operating from a position of strength, and could very well call everyone’s bluff on needing to go up for a quarterback. For one, J.J. McCarthy may well make it to Minnesota at 11. For another, their situation is such where Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have the right to think, with cornerstones such as Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Christian Darrisaw around the quarterback, that they can win with McCarthy or, say, Michael Penix Jr.”
A few days ago, Adam Schefter of ESPN suggested that Drake Maye was the “preference” for the Vikings in the draft, but McCarthy certainly wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize, particularly if he were to fall all the way to the 11th overall pick.
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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.