Here's what NFL mock drafts are saying the Minnesota Vikings should do in first round of the 2024 NFL Draft
NFL Draft season is in full swing, and the Vikings continue to be at the center of the conversation when it comes to what will happen in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Should they take a quarterback? Should they go edge rusher? Cornerback? There may not be one "right" answer, but here's […]
NFL Draft season is in full swing, and the Vikings continue to be at the center of the conversation when it comes to what will happen in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Should they take a quarterback? Should they go edge rusher? Cornerback? There may not be one "right" answer, but here's what the last 100+ NFL mock drafts are saying they could or should do.
In case you missed it, here at A to Z Sports we scraped data from over 100 mock drafts over the last three weeks to see what we could learn. Things are already shifting drastically since the NFL Combine. What does that mean for the Minnesota Vikings? We'll get to that in a moment. But first, if you want a quick snapshot of the Top 120 prospects via recent mock draft data I'll be referencing, here's a quick run down I put together in a thread on X (Twitter):
Minnesota Vikings First Round Targets
Over the past few weeks and 100+ mock drafts here are the most commonly selected first round picks for the Minnesota Vikings:
- Jared Verse, EDGE Florida State
- Laiatu Latu, EDGE UCLA
- Dallas Turner, EDGE Alabama
- J.J. McCarthy, QB Michigan
- JC Latham, OT Alabama
- Terrion Arnold, CB Alabama
- Taliese Fuaga, OT Oregon State
J.J. McCarthy, QB Michigan
Despite all the buzz during the week following Super Bowl LVIII when J.J. McCarthy quickly became the betting market favorite to land with the Vikings it seems the consensus has been shifting. Yes, J.J. McCarthy is still the most likely quarterback to land with the Vikings if they do indeed go that direction, but the odds certainly aren't in favor of that outcome actually happening.
McCarthy's hype train has gone off the rails in the last two weeks, and while his mock draft ADP is around pick 12, it will likely be top ten by next week. With the Falcons, Broncos, and Raiders all now squarely in the mix to make their move for a quarterback, the Vikings will be hard-pressed to situate themselves perfectly to land McCarthy.
Edge Defender First Round Targets
The far more likely outcome and perhaps the better choice for the Vikings would be to go with an edge defender in round one. The Vikings only had two players record more than three sacks last year (Danielle Hunter & DJ Wonnum) and both of them are likely departing via NFL free agency.
Besides quarterback, edge defender is clearly the biggest team need for the Vikings. Yes, the team likely adds some help via free agency, but they need to get younger elite talents to build around at the position.
The great news is that there are three elite edge rushing prospects who have all been going between picks 9 and 19 in recent mock drafts.
NFL Combine winners among Defensive Line and Edge prospects feature some surprising sleepers
NFL Combine winners for DL
Dallas Turner (Alabama) is most likely to be off the board by pick 11 after he dominated the NFL Combine, posting a 99th percentile Athletic Composite Score. He should be the fan favorite pick given that he has the most impressive athletic profile and second best pass rush rates stats (almost 20% pressure rate).
Even if Turner is off the board at pick 11, Jared Verse (Florida State) and Laiatu Latu (UCLA) should both likely be available. Verse has been considered an early first round prospect for over a year and finished last fall with nine sacks in his last six games. Laiatu Latu had the highest pass rush pressure rate in the 2024 NFL Draft class last fall and offers the most diverse set of pass rush moves among all edge defenders.
Other Top First Round Targets
Terrion Arnold is in the mix for CB1 status in the 2024 NFL Draft class, and while he could be a decent target for the Vikings he's been dropping down mock draft boards in recent weeks (13th as of now), trending towards the late teens. By draft day he may be considered a "reach" for the Vikings.
JC Latham and Taliese Fuaga would both be an upgrade at right tackle, and both could likely be available at pick 11. They both have been typically going between picks 10 and 18 in the majority of mock drafts. Latham has the most prototypically dominant right tackle traits, but Fuaga has the more aggressive strength-driven blocking style. Both would be great picks, but given the offensive tackle depth of this draft class there's a great chance a solid tackle option is available in early round two.
NFL Combine winners among Linebackers list features one of the greatest athletes of all time at the position
Dominant Combine Linebackers
In conclusion, the most likely position and prospect(s) available that fills a significant need for the Vikings are the edge defenders. If Dallas Turner falls to them that's fantastic. If not, either one of Jared Verse or Laiatu Latu could very well end up being the best edge defender in the 2024 NFL Draft. Rather than reaching or trading for J.J. McCarthy the Vikings may benefit most by staying put and taking one of the elite edge defenders likely available at pick 11.
