Purple Headlines of the Week: Final Draft Visits, Kevin O’Connell’s Excitement, a Vikings Roster Change before the Draft
Josh Frey
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At this time next weekend, we will officially know the results of the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, this past week has seen plenty of news that could alter how the draft ends up taking place. Some teams may be trying to smokescreen the rest of the league, but that may not be the case for everybody. Here is a look at all the purple headlines of the past week.
Vikings Make Final Draft Visits
Last week, team’s had to wrap up their final top 30 visits ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Minnesota Vikings have been confirmed to have held visits with 23 prospects this spring. Here is the full list:
- DT Byron Murphy, Texas
- CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
- EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
- EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
- RB Dillon Johnson, Washington
- TE Erick All, Iowa
- DT Khristian Boyd, UNI
- TE McCallan Castles, Tennessee
- EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
- OT Donovan Jennings, USF
- DT Michael Hall, Ohio State
- DT Taki Taimani, Oregon
- C Charles Turner, LSU
- CB Qwan’tez Stiggers, Toronto Argonauts
- WR Joshua Cephus
- RB Blake Watson, Memphis
- OT Spencer Rolland, North Carolina
- EDGE Gabriel Murphy, UCLA
- WR Javon Baker, UCF
- EDGE Trajan Jeffcoat, Arkansas
- S Josh Proctor, Ohio State
- DT Maason Smith, LSU
- C Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin
Most notably, the Vikings did not host any of the top QBs on top 30 visits. They instead conducted private workouts with those players at the prospects’ colleges.
Kevin O’Connell’s Excitement Over a Vikings FA Signing
The Minnesota Vikings saw some pretty major changes to their roster this offseason. Kevin O’Connell stood at the podium for a press conference earlier this week, and during that time, he shared some very high praise for one of the newest Vikings: RB Aaron Jones.
“[We’re] pretty darn excited to have Aaron [be] part of our team,” O’Connell said. “We’ve felt, from the opposite sideline, his impact on games. I just know what he’s been a part of as an offensive weapon in the run game and also the pass game is something that has always drawn me to him. Then you’ll learn more about him, you meet him, the toughness, the intangibles. He’s got that building-changer-type quality to him.”
The Vikings decided to part ways with starting RB Alexander Mattison, and they are hoping Jones can officially take on the RB1 role to help improve their rushing attack from where it was in 2023.
Vikings Roster Change
The Minnesota Vikings will welcome plenty of young talent in just one week during the 2024 NFL Draft. However, before the event officially gets underway, the Vikings have decided to make a roster change and waived offensive tackle Coy Cronk with a non-football injury (NFI) designation.
Cronk was picked up by the Vikings during the 2023 season after spending time in Green Bay and Jacksonville to begin his NFL career. With the departure of Cronk, the Vikings’ need for offensive tackle depth is only further enhanced. Currently, Minnesota employs their two starters (Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill) and one reserve piece (David Quessenberry).
In Case You Missed It…
As usual, we have an extra list of reading material for the especially studious Vikings fans. Happy reading!
- Vikings Defenders Are “Up for the Challenge”
- The Vikings Have Two Weeks to Make an Obvious Decision
- Vikings Schedule Projected to Be One of the Toughest in the NFL
- Two Vikings Trade Partners in the 2024 NFL Draft
- Patriots Are “Open for Business”
The Positions Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Has Never Drafted
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.