Local Insider Confident Vikings Will Complete Trade Up, Draft Top QB Prospect

Which quarterback are the Minnesota Vikings targeting in the first round of the draft later this month? If you know the answer to that question, there’s a lot of money to be made at your sportsbook of choice. But good luck, because it doesn’t appear the Vikings have one specific target.

Do they like Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye or JJ McCarthy most? They’ve set up or already completed workouts with all three. But given all three of those quarterbacks are expected to go in the top-5, the overarching concern remains.

Will general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah be able to find a trade partner who’s willing to dance out of the top-10? Because, unless the NFL rewards them with a pick-swap tampering miracle, they currently pick at No. 11. Or, will the Vikings be forced to “settle” for a 2nd tier option, like Michael Penix Jr or Bo Nix?

Minnesota Vikings would be happy landing all three top QB targets

Well, the best local insider in town, Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North) seems very confident that, barring their visit with Jayden Daniels going completely sideways or their trade-up partners — like the Patriots (No. 3), Cardinals (No. 4) and Chargers (No.5) — all drying up, that the Vikings love all three of the top quarterbacks mentioned above. Not only that, but he also sounds pretty convinced they will end up with one of either Daniels, Maye or McCarthy, when the dust settles on April 25.

“I’ll die on this hill, that my stance from a few weeks ago isn’t changing, regardless of what comes out the next couple weeks. Now, maybe subject to change a little bit, if I get some intel that, somehow next Thursday’s meeting with Jayden Daniels goes sideways. I don’t anticipate that happening. My understanding is the Vikings would be plenty happy with any of Jayden Daniels, Drake May, JJ McCarthy. I really think it’ll be one of those three.

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

Wolfson confident Vikings will land one of Daniels, Maye or McCarthy

Doogie then dove into all the hypotheticals. He offered some context and gave himself some outs of his prediction. What happens if the Patriots stay put at No. 3? Do they take a QB or do they shake up the draft by picking a non-QB in the top-3? Do they tag the Vikings, Raiders (or even Giants) for a trade back, at that spot?

Related: Florio Wonders if Vikings are Waiting for Pick-Swap Tampering Reward from Falcons

But Doogie comes back to the same spot and comes off about as sure as any deeply connected insider could be, two weeks out from the draft. Not only do the Minnesota Vikings like all three of JJ McCarthy, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, Darren is very much convinced that the Vikings will end up drafting one of those three guys too.

“What is New England going to do at three I know Adam Schefter, earlier this week, suggested that the steam right now is New England isn’t moving off pick three. All right, so who do they they prefer if Daniels goes two? Do they go Maye or McCarthy, are they going quarterback for sure at pick three?

So I understand it, that the Vikings may not even have a shot at landing one of those three [quarterbacks], but I really believe they are going to end up with one of those three. That, whether it’s Arizona at No. 4 or the Chargers at No. 5, whichever of the three end up falling. That the Vikings will get their hands on one of those guys, that the Vikings are plenty happy with any of those three.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

Wolfson can’t answer the question that would be the inside scoop of all inside scoops, which is who the Minnesota Vikings would prefer out of the three quarterback prospects they’ve been incessantly linked to all offseason.

Related: NFL Draft Insider Convinced Giants are Biggest Threat to Foil Vikings’ Trade Up Plans

Still, for how even-keeled Doogie normally is, I was very surprised to hear him announce with such conviction that Kwesi will find a way to get one of the three top QBs. Yes, he leaves himself one rip cord to pull, in a situation where they are locked out of the top-5, but he doesn’t appear all that concerned with that happening.

“I don’t have this knowledge, I don’t think anybody in my position has this knowledge, of who the Vikings prefer among Daniels, McCarthy and Maye. I don’t know that, okay, let me make that very clear. I don’t think anybody knows, but I’m sure they prefer one of those three.

I’m just telling you, my sense going back weeks, and I’m not changing this stance, is the Vikings have a healthy opinion of all three of those guys, that there would be happiness landing any of those three.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)