Another day, another mock draft to examine as we attempt to predict what the Minnesota Vikings will do when the 2024 NFL Draft begins in a few months.
Behind the wonderful E$PN paywall, analyst Field Yates has put together his first 2024 simulation, and he has the purple reinforcing the defensive side of the ball with Florida State edge Jared Verse, rather than the quarterback position.
Retaining Danielle Hunter — soon to be a free agent — would change the outlook on this pick, but losing Hunter, D.J. Wonnum and/or Marcus Davenport in free agency would leave Minnesota razor thin at pass-rusher. Verse is long, has great in-line power and shows a growing set of pass-rush moves to get home. After surprising many and returning to Florida State for the 2023 season, he helped catalyze what was on the short list for the best defense in college football last season, racking up nine sacks.
To be clear, Davenport is not exactly a “loss,” and his chances of returning to Minnesota for anything more than minimum salary (if that) in 2024 are slim. But the broader point remains: whether or not the Vikings lose Hunter in free agency, they will most likely need pass rush help, and Verse is a player who can help supply that. He is Yates’ third edge defender off the board, behind Alabama’s Dallas Turner (selected eighth) and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu (picked ninth).
So, let’s answer the question that will arise in every mock draft in which the Vikings do not select a quarterback: who did? As we’ve seen in practically every mock draft, the top three picks are all quarterbacks, with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye going in that order. The next quarterback, J.J. McCarthy of Michigan, goes to the Denver Broncos with the pick just after Minnesota’s at #12, and Oregon’s Bo Nix goes to Pittsburgh at #20.
What are your thoughts on the Vikings emphasizing defense in the first round rather drafting a quarterback?
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