Vikings’ 2024 NFL Draft: The First-Rounders One Year Later
We are now officially one year removed from the 2024 NFL Draft, which many consider to be arguably the most pivotal draft in Minnesota Vikings history to this point.
The job of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah felt as if it was in the balance, and with a couple of big maneuvers and draft selections, he’s seemed to solidify his role as shot-caller for at least a couple more seasons, though no extension for the former Wall Street Wolf has officially been announced to this point.
Of course, it’s only been one year, so nothing about any of these players is concrete yet whatsoever. Still, let’s take a look at what’s been going on with the Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 NFL Draft class over the course of the most recent trip around the sun.
Round 1, Pick 10 (via NYJ): QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
We all know what happened here; J.J. McCarthy had a solid first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. However, a day or two after the conclusion of the exhibition, it came out that McCarthy had torn his meniscus. The Vikings and the QB were given two options as to which method they would use to repair the injury: a speedier “bridge” option that could have him back in the same season, or a complete repair that would keep him sidelined for the year but have better long-term viability.
McCarthy is perfectly on track in his rehabilitation phase, will be back by training camp, and is viewed as the presumed starting QB for opening day of the 2025 NFL season, come September. He has already pseudo-defeated Aaron Rodgers for the starting job (if you wanna call it that), and gained the eventual long-term commitment from the Vikings in 2024 when they drafted him and let long-time starter Kirk Cousins walk to Atlanta.
Anywhere this kid has played, he’s won the most prestigious games at their relative level. The NFL is a different beast, but the Vikings have made it clear they trust him to lead the Viking ship into hostile waters for the long haul.
Round 1, Pick 17 (via JAX): EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
The entire time pre-draft in 2024, everyone in the Twin Cities and Vikings fans around the country and abroad hypothesized that Minnesota would have to give up multiple first round picks, both this year and in years ahead, in order to trade up and take the QB that they wanted to take them into the future.
Well, as it turned out, McCarthy fell, and Minnesota traded two late-rounders to the New York Jets to move up one spot to secure the young Michigan QB. No one could’ve seen what actually happened coming; the Vikings landed both their QBOTF and the edge rusher of the future.
Like McCarthy, Dallas Turner is both incredibly young and incredibly raw. However, unlike McCarthy, Turner was able to play in 16 games last season, so there’s a bit more to talk about here with Dallas.
Behind Van Ginkel, Greenard, and Patrick Jones last season, Turner got a nice mix of role-playing and being able to sit back and learn from one of the best edge-rushing duos in the sport, as well as one of the best defensive coordinators in Brian Flores.
In his rookie season, Turner played 28% of Minnesota’s total defensive snaps, amassing 20 tackles, 3 of those for losses, 7 QB pressures, 5 QB hits, 3 sacks, and an interception per Pro Football Reference. Turner also played 53% of Minnesota’s total special teams snaps.
The young edge-rusher will presumably have an increased role at the position and within the Vikings’ defense, as Patrick Jones signed an agreement with the Carolina Panthers this offseason.
Andrew Van Ginkel is in a contract year, so if Turner makes enough of an impact and sparks enough confidence amongst the Vikings’ brass, he could be a true starter as soon as 2026, or at least whatever a “true starter” is considered in a Flores-schemed defensive battalion.
