Over the past few offseasons, the Minnesota Vikings have made some significant roster adjustments, and 2024 was no exception. Both edge rusher Danielle Hunter and quarterback Kirk Cousins moved on, signing free agent contracts with the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons, respectively.
The Vikings’ top need going into the 2024 NFL Draft was a quarterback. Sam Darnold was a free agent that they signed, but Minnesota still lacked a long-term option at quarterback.
Up until the first round, that is. The Vikings decided to trade for the New York Jets, despite rumours circulating that other teams were in the market for quarterbacks. They acquired No. 10 overall, where they selected Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, by trading the No. 11 overall pick and two Day 3 selections.
Michael Penix Jr. was selected by the Falcons at the eighth overall pick, shocking everyone. McCarthy was the fifth quarterback taken off the board. After Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and Jayden Daniels finished first, second, and third, respectively, he came in fourth.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. didn’t mind the McCarthy acquisition given the need for a quarterback. He was dubious about the Vikings’ management of their draft capital because they appeared to be a team that was all in to win in 2024.
“I am more concerned about Kwesi Adofo-class Mensah’s general manager’s commitment to mortgaging this Minnesota team’s future. He traded a second-round pick for a first-round pick in March in order to acquire an additional first-round pick at No. 23. Additionally, he had to give the Jaguars his 2025 third- and fourth-round picks in order to move up from No. 23 to No. 17. As a result, the Vikings will only have three selections in the upcoming draft: two in Round 5 and one in Round 1. Are they really ready to go all-in at this point, with a rookie quarterback starting under centre? This comes after they only had two selections in this year’s Rounds 1-3, according to Kiper.
