6 Teams Could Spoil the Vikings’ Attempt to Draft a Quarterback
The Minnesota Vikings are currently slated to have the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Many are hoping that the team will take this opportunity towards the top of the draft order to select a quarterback, but there are plenty of other teams out there that are in the market for a quarterback this offseason. If the Vikings are unable to make a big trade to move up the board, here are 6 teams who could spoil Minnesota’s pursuit of a quarterback.
Chicago Bears
- First-Round Pick: Nos. 1 and 10
- QBs under contract: Justin Fields, Tyson Bagent
The Chicago Bears have a big decision on their hands at the quarterback position this spring. Justin Fields is still on his rookie contract for one more season (two if he gets a fifth-year option), but after that, the Bears will have to pay him at market value to keep him around.
While Fields had a strong conclusion to his 2023 season, it remains to be seen if the Bears can truly take the next step with him at quarterback. Seeing as the Lions and Packers both made playoff runs this year, the onus is on Chicago to find a way to catch up with the competition in the NFC North. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the Bears take a quarterback with the first overall pick.
Washington Commanders
- First-Round Pick: No. 2 overall
- QBs under contract: Sam Howell
There has been a changing at the guard for the Washington Commanders in 2023. Dan Snyder finally sold the team, Adam Peters was hired as the new GM, and they are still on the search for a new head coach, which former Vikings GM Rick Spielman is assisting the team with.
Sam Howell started much of the 2023 season for the Commanders, but down the stretch, he was benched for Jacoby Brissett, which doesn’t bode well for his future with the team. Howell still has two years on his rookie deal, but again, how much winning can the Commanders really do with him at the helm of their offense? The Commanders will certainly be in the mix for a quarterback with the second overall pick.
New England Patriots
- First-Round Pick: No. 3 overall
- QBs under contract: Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe
The Patriots are finally committing to the rebuild. They parted ways with Bill Belichick earlier this offseason, and they need to reset their clock at the QB position. Like Fields, Mac Jones only has one year left on his rookie deal, and if anything, he has regressed since his rookie season of 2021. Bailey Zappe is good for a couple highlights, but he doesn’t seem like a sustainable option, either.
The Patriots hold the third pick in the draft, and while in the past, New England would always be a team to trade down, this is the year where they should go after a QB in the form of Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or Caleb Williams.
New York Giants
- First-Round Pick: No. 6 overall
- QBs under contract: Tommy DeVito, Daniel Jones
The New York Giants are in an interesting spot right now. Of course, they gave Daniel Jones a massive four-year contract worth $160 million after they made the playoffs in 2022. However, 2023 did not go very well for the team, even when Jones was healthy and playing. New York has an out on the contract following the 2024 season where they could cut him and save huge amounts of money.
According to Over the Cap, cutting Jones next offseason would save them nearly $19.4 million in 2025 and a ridiculous $47.5 million in 2026. Unless the Giants are convinced that 2023 was simply a down year for Jones following the magical run in 2022, they will certainly be tempted to go after a QB in this spring’s draft, particularly if one of the aforementioned top three begin falling down the board.
Atlanta Falcons
- First-Round Pick: No. 8 overall
- QBs under contract: Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder
The Atlanta Falcons are the perfect example of a team that is “a quarterback away.” They finished the 2023 season with 11th-fewest yards allowed and have plenty of playmakers on the offensive side in Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. They also finished the season as PFF’s fourth-best team in terms of pass blocking.
However, they were simply unable to find consistent production at the QB position. Desmond Ridder started 13 games, throwing for 2836 yards, 12 TDs, and 12 INTs. Meanwhile, Atlanta was 1-3 with Taylor Heinicke under center. With the NFC South continuing to look like a division filled with mediocre teams, the Falcons can run it if they figure out the QB spot this offseason.
New York Jets
- First-Round Pick: No. 10
- QBs under contract: Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson
Could the Jets follow the same replacement plan for Aaron Rodgers as the Green Bay Packers did a few years ago with their first-round selection of Jordan Love? New York holds the 10th overall pick in the draft, one selection ahead of the Vikings. Rodgers is under contract through the 2025 season, but seeing as he suffered an Achilles injury last year and has flirted with retirement a number of times in recent years, how much trust can New York have that he will be there for the long-term?
Last offseason, they made the trade to bring in Rodgers, and they gave up their 2024 second-round pick in the process. This could be important in their hopes of drafting a QB this spring. New York won’t have another selection after round one until they are on the clock at No. 72. At that point, many of the top QB prospects will be gone, so they may need to jump at their chance to take one to develop behind Rodgers.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Over the Cap, Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Reference, and Spotrac.
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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.