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ListenMinnesota Vikings Draft Picks 2024: Vikings Draft Grade, Pick Analysis, Undrafted Free Agent Signings
Who did the Minnesota Vikings draft? In arguably the most important event in franchise history, the 2024 NFL Draft brings in a new collection of Vikings draft picks that will directly impact this team’s success or failure over the next decade. Our 2024 Vikings draft tracker will keep you updated with everything you need to know from the first round to the end of Day 3 when the draft ends.
Let’s dive into our analysis of the Vikings’ draft picks in 2024. Bookmark this page for updates throughout the 2024 NFL Draft. We’ll also have prospect profiles on the top picks of the Vikings draft class.
Related: Biggest winners from NFL Draft, including Minnesota Vikings
Table of Contents
Vikings draft analysis 2024: Pick-by-pick analysis of the Vikings draft class
Round 1, 10th overall: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
They may have had to slightly trade up to do so, the Vikings landing McCarthy presumably gets Kevin O’Connell one of his top targets in the NFL Draft. There was plenty of smoke linking the front office to the Michigan national champion, and mostly allowing the draft board to fall their way allowed the Vikings to strike quickly before another team like the Broncos or Raiders to leap forward.
As to McCarthy’s upside, it’s that of a potential top-10 quarterback, bringing a brilliant offensive mind to match wits with O’Connell. McCarthy can make all the throws, and his above-average athleticism will impress those who criticized Kirk Cousins for a lack of mobility in and out of the pocket.
- Grade: B+
Any quarterback who joined this offense had a strong chance to be successful, and McCarthy’s no different. Hyped as a strong locker room leader, McCarthy will be like Cousins in the sense that he’ll be more than willing to dive into the playbook and be prepared for all scenarios on gameday.
One of the most fascinating tidbits about McCarthy was revealed during the pre-draft process, where an anonymous current NFL scout provided a brief glimpse into what made the Michigan QB different than his peers.
“Before he signed, he was telling other Michigan recruits that if they wanted to party and chase girls, go somewhere else. His class was going to be the one that restored Michigan. To have that mentality and actually achieve it? He’s different.”
Anonymous current NFL scout on J.J. McCarthy’s leadership
If that’s the type of dedication Kwesi Adofo-Mensah just injected into the locker room, Minnesota Vikings fans will be very happy with the results.
Related: Vikings Trade Up Again in 1st Round, Select EDGE Dallas Turner (Alabama)
Round 1, 17th overall: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Wow. A player who many had projected to be the Falcons’ eighth overall pick slipped into the teens, and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah just couldn’t wait any longer. He pounced up the draft board by coughing up a few extra picks to slide up six picks for who many expected to be the first edge rusher selected in the NFL Draft.
- Grade: A-
While many felt the Vikings already addressed the pass-rushing void left vacant by Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum’s departure, Turner is a 1-for-1 replacement for their former 4x Pro Bowl sack master. Like Hunter, Turner is a freak of nature who clocked a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Turner still needs to improve as a run defender, but Brian Flores will find a way to weaponize his new toy as a pass rusher right away.
Related: Why the Minnesota Vikings should trade up for quarterback J.J. McCarthy
Round 4, 108th overall: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
Brian Flores gets a massive cornerback to develop with the 6-foot-4, 194-pound project out of Oregon. At that size, running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash is impressive, but he also recorded three interceptions last season for the Ducks, showing he has ball skills, size, and athleticism.
- Grade: B-
Jackson was projected as a fourth-round pick, so this is expected value for the Vikings. Unlikely to be stranded on an island in coverage as a rookie, Jackson needs more time to develop his consistency, but he can excel in contested catch situations. Otherwise, Jackson may be relegated to special teams until proving he can handle a bigger role on defense. The Vikings needed more cornerback depth, so it’s hard to hate this pick. Obviously, Coach Flores sees something he likes in the big cornerback/safety prospect.
Related: Top Minnesota Vikings Moments in Team History
Round 6, 177th overall: Walter Rouse, OT, Oklahoma
A former left tackle for the Sooners, Walter Rouse didn’t allow any sacks during his final season at Oklahoma. He led all FBS tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency at a near-perfect 99.3%, allowing just six pressures. At 6-foot-6, 313 pounds, Rouse seems fit to stay at tackle instead of competing at guard. Unlikely to see any starting snaps any time soon with the Vikings’ star tackle tandem locked in through 2025, Rouse’s role may be focused on trying to become the best swing tackle he can be for now. While Rouse needs to get stronger, he has the size and intelligence to develop into a capable player in time.
- Grade: C
Related: Vikings’ Trade Offer to Patriots for No. 3 Pick Revealed by NFL Insider
Round 6, 203rd overall: Will Reichard, K, Alabama
After scoring an FBS record 547 points in his career, Will Reichard is ready to take his talent to the NFL. Reichard boasts a strong leg that connected on 10 field goal kicks made from 50 or more yards during his Alabama career, but accuracy might be his better trait.
- Grade: B
Having missed just two extra points in 297 opportunities, Reichard brings a career 99.3% XP conversion rate to U.S. Bank Stadium, where he’ll now be allowed to kick indoors during home games. However, his 84% career field-goal percentage leaves some room for improvement in the pros. Still, after letting Greg Joseph test free agency, where he landed in Green Bay, the Vikings had a need for another kicker to compete with former XFL stud John Parker Romo.
Round 7, 230th overall: Michael Jurgens, iOL, Wake Forest
An interior offensive lineman with great size at 6-foot-4 3/4″, Michael Jurgens brings 34 games of starting experience from Wake Forest to Minnesota. While he played a bit of guard in college, most of his time came at center. An average athlete who needs to bulk up, Jurgens has been a plus pass protector who has shown promise as a run blocker too. The only issue here is Jurgens was viewed as an undrafted free agent, yet clearly the Vikings saw more potential, and at the 230th pick, you can’t really complain here.
- Grade: C
Round 7, 232nd overall: Levi Drake Rodriguez, DL, Texas A&M-Commerce
A classic ‘stump the truck’ pick, Levi Drake Rodriguez is not a very well-known prospect, which means one of the Vikings scouts saw something they liked. LDR is a 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle who boasts impressive upper-body strength and acceleration. Rodriguez has a nonstop motor, which could make him a disruptive player in the pros. With a desperate need for defensive line talent, taking a chance on a small-school project is exactly what the Vikings should do in the seventh round.
- Grade: C-
Related: Top 10 Minnesota Vikings QB Draft Picks of All-Time
Minnesota Vikings undrafted free agent signings
Here is a list of the Vikings’ undrafted free agent signings so far:
- Devron Harper, WR, Mercer
- Ty James, WR, Mercer
- Jeshaun Jones, WR, Maryland (ranked as 15th-best UDFA WR on NFL.com)
- Trey Knox, TE, South Carolina (2nd-best UDFA TE on NFL.com)
- Matt Cindric, OL, California (16th-best UDFA iOL on NFL.com)
- Jeremy Flax, OL, Kentucky (8th-best UDFA OT on NFL.com)
- Doug Nester, OL, West Virginia
- Spencer Rolland, OL, North Carolina (3rd-best UDFA OT) – Attended Apple Valley HS
- Taki Taimani, DL, Oregon (27th-best UDFA DT on NFL.com)
- Tyler Manoa, DL, Arizona
- Gabriel Murphy, OLB, UCLA (Best UDFA EDGE on NFL.com)
- Owen Porter, OLB, Marshall
- Bo Richter, OLB, Air Force
- Dallas Gant, LB, Toledo (10th-best UDFA LB on NFL.com)
- K.J. Cloyd, LB, Miami
- Donovan Manuel, LB, Florida International
- Dwight McGlothern, CB, Arkansas (8th-best UDFA CB on NFL.com)
Edge rusher Gabriel Murphy is a notable signing. The 6-foot-2, 247-pound pass rusher received a fifth-round grade from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. PFF had Murphy as the fourth-best UDFA available, and cornerback Dwight McGlothern was 19th.
Minnesota Vikings draft grades 2024 – Draft grades from NFL experts
Both during and after the 2024 NFL Draft, you can find consensus draft grades on the Vikings draft class in 2024 right here. We’ll be using expert analysis from various top NFL outlets.
You can find our own Vikings draft analysis for every pick above.
- Fox Sports: B+ for McCarthy and Turner
- CBS Sports: McCarthy C+, Turner A
- Pro Football Focus: McCarthy (average), Turner (good)
- The Athletic: McCarthy A, Turner A
- USA Today: McCarthy B-, Turner B
- Yahoo Sports: B+
Related: Minnesota Vikings news and rumors
Minnesota Vikings draft picks 2024 – Live draft tracker
Here you can find our Vikings draft tracker 2024, containing every member of the Vikings draft class in 2024. Our pick-by-pick analysis and consensus Vikings draft grades can be found above.
- Round 1, 10th overall: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
- Round 1, 17th overall: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
- Round 4, 108th overall: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
- Round 6, 177th overall: Walter Rouse, OT, Oklahoma
- Round 6, 203rd overall: Will Reichard, K, Alabama
- Round 7, 230th overall: Michael Jurgens, iOL, Wake Forest
- Round 7, 232nd overall: Levi Drake Rodriguez, DL, Texas A&M-Commerce
Related: Top 10 Minnesota Vikings 1st Round Draft Picks of All-Time
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