We are just days removed from the 2024 NFL Draft, and Minnesota Vikings fans are riding high from big draft swings. Going into Round 1 with picks 11 and 23, the Vikings moved up to pick 10 to land their new quarterback, J.J. McCarthy (Michigan). They acquired this pick via a trade with the New York Jets. Minnesota gave up 11, 129, 157 in exchange for 10 and 203. Amazingly, McCarthy was the fifth quarterback taken from off the board. Ahead of this draft, many analysts predicted McCarthy to go earlier than 10, making this move a steal for the Vikings.
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Defense Domination
Unexpectedly, the Minnesota Vikings traded up a second time in the first round and landed a key player for their defense: Dallas Turner, Edge rusher, from Alabama. Moving from pick 23 to pick 17, the Vikings didn’t whiff on their defensive needs and filled the hole left by Danielle Hunter. This trade was made with the Jacksonville Jaguars who received a package that included 23, 167, 2025 third-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick from the Vikings.
Day Three Picks
Without any day two picks, the Vikings added five more fundamental players to their team on day three. First up, they added a pair of players to their defense- cornerback Khyree Jackson from Oregon at pick 108, and at pick 177, tackle Walter Rouse from Oklahoma. Not to leave spicy moves to day one, the Vikings drafted the first kicker off the board in Will Reichard from Alabama at pick 203. This position has been a pain point for Vikings special teams. Hopefully, Reichard is the kicker the team’s been looking for. Rounding out their 2024 NFL Draft, the Vikings selected center Michael Jurgens from Wake Forest at pick 230, and defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez from Texas A&M at pick 232.
Takeaways
The Minnesota Vikings made big draft swings for 2024 addressing multiple needs from offense, defense and special teams. This 2024 season will be the third foray for tandem General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Coach Kevin O’Connell, and they came out fires blazing in this draft. Will J.J. McCarthy be the missing piece for this offense? Armed with receiving options like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, McCarthy stands poised to have a successful rookie season. Is he the long-awaited franchise quarterback this organization has been needing? JJ —> Jets: is this the dynamic duo that Super Bowl dreams are made of? The season will tell. Skol.
Photo Credit: Clutch Points
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