Vikings end up with a worst-case scenario in Peter Schrager's mock draft
NFL Network and Fox reporter Peter Schrager is respected because of how much work he put in to build a strong and reliable mock draft. And that should bring some concern to Minnesota Vikings fans, because his 2024 mock is basically a worst-case scenario for the team. In the mock, there is an early run […]
NFL Network and Fox reporter Peter Schrager is respected because of how much work he put in to build a strong and reliable mock draft. And that should bring some concern to Minnesota Vikings fans, because his 2024 mock is basically a worst-case scenario for the team.
In the mock, there is an early run for quarterbacks. Caleb Williams goes to the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels ends up with the Washington Commanders, and the New England Patriots stay put to select Drake Maye. The final blow is that the New York Giants move up from six to four to get JJ McCarthy, which is expected to finish up the first tier of quarterbacks.
In that situation, the Vikings would have traded up from 42 to 23, giving up a future second-round pick, and wouldn't get a top quarterback prospect.
Schrager indicated the Vikings would stay put at both selections, taking cornerback Terrion Arnold at 11 — as the first defensive back off the board — and quarterback Bo Nix at 23. It's not an absurd reach, since Nix is the 32nd player on the consensus big board, but his limitations as a prospect are evident.
Check out Schrager's points:
Pick 11, CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
"The Vikings stay put to take a top corner and all-around great prospect. Arnold arrived in Tuscaloosa as a five-star safety, then played inside and outside corner under Nick Saban. He flourished and was the Alabama defense's field general last season. Great juice and a leader. Sam Darnold will be the Vikings' Day 1 starter in this scenario, but that doesn't mean Minnesota's done with the quarterback room."
Pick 23, QB Bo Nix, Oregon
"Nix could go as high as 11, 12 or 13… or completely fall out of the first round. I think 23 to the Vikings — or another team around here in a trade-up — makes sense. One thing on Nix: He's as accurate as they come, having just set the FBS record this past season with a completion percentage of 77.45. Smart processor, too. These are things that will be very highly valued by offensive coaches and QB gurus. That's Kevin O'Connell. That's Sean Payton. I could see Nix playing for either of those men."
An important disclaimer is that it's impossible to predict for sure what's going to happen on April 25. While Peter Schrager is well connected around the league, no team is motivated to share real information. In last year's mock, for example, he predicted the Vikings would take running back Bijan Robinson at 23, then move back up into the first round to select quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Robinson was selected much earlier, with the eighth overall pick, by the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, Hooker ended up as a third-round pick by the Detroit Lions. The Vikings selected wide receiver Jordan Addison, whom Schrager had predicted to the Houston Texans with the 20th overall pick.
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