If the Vikings Draft a QB, They Must Do So with Caution
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings have plenty of remaining questions surrounding their roster for the 2024 season.
The NFL Draft, which is just about two and a half weeks away, should answer a number of those questions. Most prominently, the quarterback position could be one that is resolved through this spring’s draft.
That being said, if the Vikings draft a QB in 2024, they should proceed with extreme caution moving forward.
The Vikings Must Be Cautious if They Draft a QB
First and foremost, there must be caution in selecting which quarterback that the Vikings want to select and have lead their offense. There are upwards of six quarterbacks being discussed as first-round talents, so many believe that this year’s QB class is much more talented than we’ve seen over the past couple drafts.
That being said, many will remember that the exact same thing was said of the 2021 NFL Draft. With five quarterbacks receiving much of the pre-draft hype (Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones), all five were selected in the first round, and for just the third time in NFL Draft history, QBs were selected with the each of the top three picks.
However, just about four years later, many of those QB selections are looking like mistakes. Of course, Lawrence remains with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and while the team missed the playoffs in a disappointing 2023 season, there have at least been flashes of greatness with the Jaguars quarterback.
That is not something that can be said of the other four first-round QBs from that draft, though. In fact, three of them have been traded from their original teams at this point. Lance was traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the Dallas Cowboys while Fields was sent to the Pittsburgh Steelers from the Chicago Bears. Jones heads to the Jacksonville Jaguars after spending his first three seasons with the New England Patriots.
Making matters worse, the total return on those three QBs was a 2024 fourth-round pick (Lance), a 2024 sixth-round pick (Jones), and a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick (Fields). It’s a pretty horrendous return on investment for all three teams, particularly considering both San Francisco and Chicago traded up for their quarterbacks.
It is not unreasonable to think that Wilson could be next on that list, but his price tag may be so low that the Jets keep him around simply because nobody will give them a good enough package to take him on. If the Vikings want to avoid a similar fate, they need to be certain that whichever QB they target in this year’s draft is a player who fits their ideal skillset to run Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Not only does that player need to fit into O’Connell’s scheme, but he needs to be fully ready to execute it whenever he gets onto the field. That very well could result in the rookie sitting for the entirety of his rookie season while he learns. If that is the case, it should not be viewed as the QB being a “bust” just one season into his career, and Vikings fans should be very patient with their young quarterback.
It could be argued that many of those quarterbacks from the 2021 NFL Draft (particularly Fields and Wilson) were thrown to the wolves far before they were ready. Not only were they extremely young players, but there was very little infrastructure in either of Chicago or New York to help a new QB succeed.
Particularly if the Vikings opt for one of those younger players like Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy, patience will be of the utmost importance.
The infrastructure in Minnesota should be the reason that the Vikings ultimately select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. They have star receivers in place, stalwart offensive tackles, a new look to the running game, and an improving defense.
As a result, it does seem like the Vikings would be a fantastic landing spot for a young QB to learn and develop. Minnesota has a couple veterans in Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens on the roster to help bring that rookie QB along too, and if Minnesota feels the need to sit their rookie for some time, either of them can start games in the meantime.
Ultimately, the cautious path may not be the most exciting one for the Vikings. Once the QB gets selected, everyone will want to see that player on the field. However, particularly if the Vikings are going to trade away multiple first-round picks in order to move up and select a QB, they need to do everything in their power to ensure that player gets put into a position to succeed.
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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.