Minnesota Vikings Insider Reveals Team’s Interest in 2024 NFL Draft Quarterbacks, Trade Possibility
The Minnesota Vikings have been connected to quarterback prospects in NFL Draft rumors in each of the past three offseasons. Months out from the 2024 NFL Draft, it appears the odds of the Vikings using one of their top picks on a signal-caller are increasing.
Holding the 11th overall pick in 2024, Minnesota is not well-positioned to move up for Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. Both quarterbacks are expected to be picked immediately in the NFL Draft with both the Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears unlikely to trade down.
Related: NFL insider reveals Minnesota Vikings’ top target with first-round pick
While reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels is a more realistic trade-up option, the New England Patriots (third overall) and Atlanta Falcons (eighth overall) are both interested in the LSU Tigers star. However, that hasn’t kept Minnesota from seriously considering using one of its top picks on a passer.
Reporting from the Senior Bowl, Alec Lewis of The Athletic covered Minnesota’s draft plans and its interest in quarterbacks in-depth. With Vikings general manager Kewsi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell both in attendance, Minnesota seemed to be taking a particular interest in the passers working out in practices.
“On Wednesday morning, Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell earned the nod. They stood together at the 50-yard line, monitoring a session that featured the two highest-profile players at the event: Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix. Meanwhile, assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski positioned himself on the other side of the field, where he watched both players closely. During a red zone period Thursday morning, O’Connell and Udinski returned to the field to monitor Penix and Nix.”
Alec Lewis on the Minnesota Vikings’ interest in the 2024 QB prospects at the Senior Bowl
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Williams, Maye and Daniels weren’t at the Senior Bowl as underclassmen, but this week’s practices in Alabama allowed the Vikings’ coaching staff and front office to get an up-close look at some of the other quarterbacks.
Unfortunately for Michael Penix Jr and Bo Nix, neither player had particularly strong performances in the Senior Bowl practices. However, Nix showed improvement late in the week and carried that success over into the scrimmage. Penix, a Heisman Trophy finalist, didn’t play in the Senior Bowl game.
Lewis went on to write that talent evaluators in attendance liked some of the things they saw from Nix and Penix Jr., but neither player looked like a sure-fire talent with the physical tools to lift an NFL team to the next level.
Importantly, he also noted that Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings’ front office studied the 2023 quarterback class last year and looked into the possibility of trading up for one of their preferred options. While it didn’t happen last year, that same approach is expected to be replicated for the 2024 NFL Draft and Minnesota could trade up for a quarterback later in Round 1.
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