We found out what life without Kirk will be like, without a successful succession plan in place, when he went down in week 8 last season, with a torn achilles. In an effort to make sure they aren’t caught with QB pants down again, the Vikings quickly pivoted to Sam Darnold, who they signed to a 1-year, $10 million deal, just after the clock struck midnight, in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

But if the Vikings want to keep Justin Jefferson happy long term, and they want panicking fans to forget about Kirk Cousins or and Sam Darnold in the short-term, then they need to hit on a rookie QB in the NFL Draft next month. As of Wednesday morning, the Vikings are favorites to land Michigan QB JJ McCarthy, along with being tied as favorites for Oregon’s, Bo Nix. — [Read More: Vikings QB Draft Odds]

Minnesota Vikings Absent from Bo Nix’s Pro Day

Now, we know that Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have done exhaustive amounts of work on this year’s QB class. They’ve been linked to just about every top QB on board and interviewed all of them during the NFL scouting combine.

But if they are heavily interested in Bo Nix, they didn’t show it on Tuesday, when he performed in Eugene at Oregon’s scheduled pro day. In fact, they didn’t really show up at all. That’s right. No KOC, no Kwesi and no Josh McCown, who was just hired as QB coach a couple of weeks ago.

Doesn’t sound like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Kevin O’Connell or Josh McCown are in Eugene today for Bo Nix’s pro day at Oregon. https://t.co/KXC695lTdk

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) March 12, 2024

Of course, this could mean nothing. Obviously, with the free agency tampering period going on the last couple days and the Vikings being HEAVILY involved in all the action, they may have felt their time was better spent elsewhere yesterday, especially after most of the Minnesota coaching staff got a really close look at Bo Nix during the Senior Bowl.

Related: Former Packers RB Aaron Jones is Signing with the Vikings

Showing up in mass to Nix’s pro day could draw more attention to the former Ducks QB, too. So even if they are extremely interested, avoiding Eugene on Tuesday could be seen as an attempt to throw teams off-track on their plans in the draft.

Some of Bo Nix's best throws from Pro Day: #GoDucks #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/20QNrw9OwR

— Trevor Denton (@trevordenton37) March 12, 2024

McCown wasn’t on staff when they were in Mobile, AL coaching Bo Nix, but he was able to get eyes, hands and ears on him at the combine. With Kirk Cousins now out and the Vikings hunting for a new franchise QB, the next six weeks leading up to the draft will be a rollercoaster of reports and smokescreens. So hang on tight, Minnesota…

Bo Nix by the numbers at Oregon was absurd

Nix’s final year in Eugene was arguably the greatest season ever by a University of Oregon quarterback, which made him just the fourth Heisman Trophy finalist in program history (finished 3rd). I mean, the numbers that Bo put up last year are jaw-dropping.

Related: Vikings Signing Big Leg XFL Kicker John Parker Romo

He set an NCAA single-season record for completion percentage at 77.45% (364-of-470). Oh, the record he broke was his own, 71.9% set in 2022. Nix also broke Oregon’s single-season records for completions (364), passing yards (4,508) and passing touchdowns (45). How many interceptions? THREE.

Oh, you think all Oregon QBs put up huge numbers in that legendary spread-style offense? Try again. 2023 Bo Nix is the first ever Duck quarterback to surpass 4,500 passing yards in a season.

Is he one of the top 3 QB prospects? Probably not. But I'm surprised with how much flak I come across on Bo Nix. He was college football's most efficient red zone passer in 2023 and he possesses all of the desirable tools in a QB. pic.twitter.com/ImmYenNyce

— Tanner Weber – Purple Post (@Purple_Post) March 7, 2024

The NFL draft kicks off on April 25th, leaving the Vikings front office a little over a month to decide their strategy. Will they target a guy that they are forced to trade up for or will they like one of the tier-two QBs, who will likely be available to them at No. 11, possibly later if they want to trade back?

This draft is seen as one of the best quarterback drafts in recent history and should present head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah numerous possibilities, depending on who they like. No matter which way you slice it, though, the 2024 NFL Draft will be one of the most important drafts in franchise history.

Minnesota Vikings Next QB Odds

We know the Vikings are going to select a quarterback early. The uncertainty lies in which quarterbacks they like and which they are comfortable entrusting the future of the organization with. The draft class features several talented quarterbacks, four of which are currently expected to go in the top-10: Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (UNC), Jayden Daniels (LSU) and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan).

JJ McCarthy’s National Championship Season tape at Michigan 🔥〽️pic.twitter.com/65gjRCfDD0

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) March 12, 2024

The two quarterbacks currently viewed by draft experts as 2nd tier could go anywhere outside of the top-10, depending on how much the QB hungry teams (like the Vikings) value them one month from now. Those two guys are Bo Nix (Oregon) and Michael Penix Jr. (Washington).

Related: Dalton Risner is Struggling to Find Free Agent Suitors Again and He’s Tweeting About It

Whether Minnesota targets one of those top guys or decide to sit back and wait for Nix or Penix… there is a lot of risk involved. There’s no way to know which route the Vikings will travel. But one worthy indicator of what they might do comes in sportsbooks like DraftKings, which currently has Minnesota as a top-3 favorite to land all of the above QBs mentioned, outside of Drake Maye, who’s been falling down boards in recent days, leading his odds to be pulled until those rumors settle.

• J.J. McCarthy: +150 (1st)
• Bo Nix: +250 (2nd)
• Michael Penix Jr.: +300 (T-1st)
• Jayden Daniels: +600 (3rd)
• Caleb Williams: +1500 (3rd)
• Drake Maye: N/A

Odds via DraftKings

J.J. McCarthy is currently the favorite, of the top QBs, to be taken by the Vikings. The odds for McCarthy, Nix and Penix Jr, however, are all within 150 points of each other, meaning it’s still very possible that their next quarterback ends up being any of those three.

All options are still worth plus money, though, meaning the odds are stacked against you no matter who you bet on. That’s why the sportsbooks are offering you more money, if you win, than they will take from you, if you lose. For example, if you bet $100 on McCarthy, you would win $150. Bet $100 on Bo Nix tonight and you win $250, if he ends up being drafted by the Vikings, etc.

Related: Former Packers RB Aaron Jones is Signing with the Minnesota Vikings

Michael Penix Jr. is listed at +300 odds, which makes him less likely than either Nix or McCarthy but the Vikings are still tied as the most likely team to take him (Seattle is also +300). This again suggests that various outcomes are still possible.

Fuck it, let’s watch some Michael Penix Sugar Bowl highlights. Forever a legend pic.twitter.com/NWzyqhqvUa https://t.co/5R4e5iSdhy

— Mariners World Series (DAWGS BY A MILLION 😈) (@theREALkrini) January 13, 2024

The former Heisman winnerJayden Daniels has odds of +600 to land with the Vikings, making him the least likely of the five listed. The Commanders are favored to land him at -130 odds. Minnesota is +1500 to land Williams, meaning that is highly unlikely to happen… though they do have the 3rd best odds.

What to Expect in the 2024 NFL Draft

These odds confirm what we already expected to happen once Kirk Cousins left town. The Minnesota Vikings are drafting a quarterback next month. It’s just a matter of which one they prefer and how much draft capital they’re willing to give up to secure their guy.

Related: Danielle Hunter Signing with Houston Texans

While there may be a quarterback available at the 11th pick, there’s a chance they might not be satisfied with that option. The Vikings are likely to assess each team’s position on the draft board to determine where they need to be to select their preferred quarterback. This draft could be super exciting, and huge for the future of the organization.

Related: How Byron Murphy II fits with the Minnesota Vikings

Previewing Minnesota’s offseason, Alec Lewis of The Athletic released his first team-specific 2024 NFL mock draft of the winter. While. he didn’t have the Vikings trading up into the top 5 for a quarterback, he did come away filling huge needs for Minnesota and swinging two trades.

Recent mock draft has Minnesota Vikings wheeling and dealing

With the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Lewis had the Vikings select Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Byron Murphy II. One of the early risers in the pre-draft process, Minnesota has already been connected to the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year with reports of interest from the Vikings front office.

As Lewis explains in his Vikings mock draft, Murphy would add much-needed help to the defensive interior and he fits the profile of what defensive coordinator Brian Flores wants in the trenches. While Murphy is underside (6-foot-1), he makes up for it with explosiveness. As Lewis notes, Minnesota last spent a first-round pick on a defensive tackle in 2013 (Sharrif Floyd).

After that pick is where things get interesting. Recognizing the team’s long-term uncertainty at quarterback, Lewis had the Vikings trade back into Round 1 for quarterback Bo Nix. It came at the cost of the 42nd overall pick, a 2024 fourth-round selection and a third-round pick in 2025.

Related: Minnesota Vikings report reveals team’s interest in 2024 QB class

Nix, an NCAA record-setter with the Oregon Ducks, has a wide draft range but the general consensus seems to be that he could be taken at the end of Round 1. In Lewis’ scenario, Minnesota lands its quarterback of the future without sacrificing its first- or second-round picks in 2025.

Lewis later has Minnesota package multiple Day 3 picks to move up in Round 5 to add an intriguing linebacker to the middle of Flores’ defense. While mock drafts are generally just a fun exercise, Lewis’ piece provides insight into one way Minnesota can reshape its roster through the NFL Draft.

Senior Bowl QBs Battling in front of Minnesota Vikings coaches and executives

How early is still anyone’s guess but nearly the entire organization, including most of the front office, much of the scouting department and the entire coaching staff is in attendance in Mobile, AL this week where a few projected day one QBs are competing at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Related: Offseason Contract Extension Possible for Kevin O’Connell

There have been multiple quarterbacks linked to the Vikings for the draft, with top names like Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels talked about in a possible trade-up, but that would most likely require a move up into the top 3. In the scenario that the Vikings stay put at 11 and take a top defender, there are still multiple directions they can take at the quarterback position.

Bo Nix – Oregon Ducks

One name that has been connected to the Vikings has been Oregon signal caller and Heisman Finalist Bo Nix. The biggest thing going for Nix is his experience, as he has over 50 career starts in 5 collegiate seasons between Auburn and Oregon, but he had many question marks coming into the Senior Bowl, and those came to call on day 1, where he struggled.

Let’s just say…

Bo Nix isn’t having the best showing at the Senior Bowl… pic.twitter.com/vEtsvBlYSS

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 31, 2024

Arguably his biggest concern has been his deep ball passing, and those have been highlighted so far in Mobile. Per Bleacher Report, most of Nix’s passes have been short throws, and while he has performed well for the most part in that area, when he has gone deep the throws have not been where they needed to be, missing low, high and behind.

“Nix is not normally this inaccurate on film, but it’s not surprising to see him late to trigger and generally a little anxious as a thrower. Both of those traits track with what he put on film, and both have cranked up in an unfamiliar environment. If there was a competition for the best quarterback in Mobile, Nix wouldn’t be first, second and probably not even third.”

Bleacher Report Scouting Department

But most reports out of Mobile surrounding Nix, especially from Thursday (day 3) have been a lot more positive. Some have even moved him all the way up their QB for the week, saying he has had the most impressive overall week of any QB there.

Michael Penix had a nice throw along the back of the end zone to the left side a few mins ago. Bo Nix just matched him with a nice in-stride throw to Malachi Corley on the right side pic.twitter.com/jVSveZFHVB

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 1, 2024

Related: Vikings Infatuated with Top-50 Toledo Cornerback Balling Out at Senior Bowl Practices

Michael Penix Jr – Washington Huskies

Another big name that has been talked about ending up in purple has been national championship runner up QB Michael Penix Jr. After a masterclass of a game in the national semifinal game, Penix Jr struggled in the final, notably with the heavy amount of pressure that Michigan Wolverines threw at him.

But there’s no doubting the impressive numbers he put up the past two seasons, compiling 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns vs just 19 interceptions. His 65.4 completion percentage is concerning, but not alarming.

What is alarming is the fact that Penix put up those eye-popping numbers at Washington, after a rollercoaster of ups and downs at Indiana, where he totaled just 4,197 yards, 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions (20 games) over four different seasons. Both of his seasons on the West Coast were individually more impressive than four combined seasons in Bloomington.

Here are some of the best throws from Michael Penix Jr in 1 vs 1 and team period pic.twitter.com/GwaOS5vLl2

— Dustin Mosher (@Dustin_Mosher) February 1, 2024

Penix is another prospect who has had some question marks coming into this week, most notably his age and injury history, with three of his seasons ending early due to injury, including two torn ACLs. Penix got off to a slow start at the Senior Bowl, struggling with his accuracy early on, but the lefty gunslinger was able to lock in as the week has gone and his reviews have been better in days two and three.

Spencer Rattler – South Carolina

Then, there’s the darkhorse 1st-round QB talent in Mobile, Spencer Rattler, who nobody has had on their radar as a possible first round pick since pretty much 2021. But that has changed in recent weeks, as steam around the former Sooner/Gamecock is suddenly bursting out of the kettle.

Related: 5 Offseason Moves that Make the Minnesota Vikings a Super Bowl Contender

Rattler threw for 3,186 yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions at South Carolina last season. His 68.9 completion percentage was the best since his redshirt sophomore year in Oklahoma, when he split starter duties with Caleb Williams, who eventually transferred to USC and is expected to be drafted No. 1 overall in April’s draft.

Outside of his 2020 season at Oklahoma, when he threw 28 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, his QB totals don’t year-over-year don’t necessarily jump off the page. But his 68.5 career completion percentage is rather impressive, as is his 77/32 TD/INT ratio.

Particularly during team drills on Wednesday, Rattler was impressive. He was composed on his dropback, went through his progressions quickly, and was decisive triggering on throws. And on one throw in teams, he rifled a high-velocity laser to Xavier Legette 25 yards down the field, outside the numbers.

Ian Cummings – Pro Football Network

Walked into mobile wanting to love Michael Penix and Bo Nix, and the QB that stood out the most for me was @GamecockFB QB Spencer Rattler.

Let him land on a team where he can continue to grow and develop. I was very impressed. 📈 #SeniorBowl #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE #2024NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/kYpqzyghYa

— Ray G (@RayGQue) February 2, 2024