Vikings winners and losers after the 2024 NFL Draft: Justin Jefferson feels the love from Minnesota
The 2024 NFL Draft has ended and like all the other teams, a few outlooks have shifted, both for the good and the bad.Some guys will be looking over their shoulders moving forward, while others feel like the world is their oyster after the lastest developments.Let's waste no more time and talk about which Minnesota […]
The 2024 NFL Draft has ended and like all the other teams, a few outlooks have shifted, both for the good and the bad.
Some guys will be looking over their shoulders moving forward, while others feel like the world is their oyster after the lastest developments.
Let's waste no more time and talk about which Minnesota Vikings players come out of the draft as winners or losers.
Winners
1. Brian Flores
Why: The Vikings needed to add several pieces to the defense and they did just that by trading up for Dallas Turner and taking Khyree Jackson with two of their first three picks in the draft.
Those two moves, on top of several big free agency additions, have Flores' defense in a spot where it can regain the midseason form that had the making of a top-10 unit.
2. WR Justin Jefferson
Why: The Vikings are clearly trying to find a permanent solution to their quarterback question now that Kirk Cousins is out of the picture and that's evident with the selection of J.J. McCarthy.
And, if McCarthy isn't ready to play in 2024, then the Vikings have Sam Darnold, who should provide enough capable play to where Jefferson can at least stay on pace to be the NFL's highest paid receiver. Then, the McCarthy era can begin in 2025, after Jefferson gets paid.
3. QB Sam Darnold
Why: If Darnold beats out McCarthy, he gets to start for presumably the entire season and he gets one last shot at scoring a big deal elsewhere, much like Baker Mayfield last year. Except Mayfield stayed in Tampa Bay, obviously.
But, if Darnold doesn't beat out McCarthy, he still gets paid $10 million to sit on the bench. And, he'll likely get the benefit of the doubt in 2025 and get one last shot to prove himself because teams will think the Vikings propped up their rookie, mostly.
That, my friends, is what they call a win-win-win.
Losers
1. CB Akayleb Evans
Why: Anyone following the Vikings expected the team to draft a cornerback at some point during the draft, even without picks in Rounds 2 and 3.
Well, when Day 3 started, there was a chance the Vikings would pass up the spot if the right guy wasn't there, simply to avoid reaching. That didn't happen, however, as Khyree Jackson was available and quickly became the 108th overall pick in the draft.
Byron Murphy may move inside, which opens up an outside spot. Coming into the draft, it was Mekhi Blackmon, Shaq Griffin, and Evans duking it out for the two outside spots. Now, with Jackson in the mix, Evans gets bumped down another notch. He wasn't very good in starting duty, last season, and now has to overcome the negative momentum, plus more competition.
2. OT David Quessenberry
Why: Quessenberry was OK when he replaced Brian O'Neill over the last few games of the season and it looked like he was set to return after the Vikings gave him a one-year, $1.885 million contract extension before the start of the new league year.
Then, Minnesota drafted former Oklahoma Sooners tackle, Walter Rouse, with the 177th overall pick, a sixth-rounder, in the draft. Rouse has the ability to play swing tackle in the NFL and while he needs refinement, there's always a chance he develops faster than anticipated over the offseason.
Teams typically don't carry four tackles and the Vikings can still create more than $500k in cap room by releasing Quessenberry. It's safe to say his prospects have shifted after the draft.
