They have evaluated the quarterbacks. They have drawn up their NFL Draft board. And now, the Minnesota Vikings must wait and see.
See who the Washington Commanders select at No. 2. See what the New England Patriots do at No. 3. And see how multiple other quarterback suitors jockey for position at the top. It’s crunchtime for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who will likely be defined by what happens Thursday night, one way or another.
This is our final Vikings mock draft, a projection of how we expect things to fall. It includes a quarterback, three trades and 10 selections in full.
Have at it …
Vikings’ draft picks
Round | Pick | Overall | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 | 11 | |
1 | 23 | 23 | From Browns via Texans |
4 | 8 | 108 | |
4 | 29 | 129 | From Lions |
5 | 22 | 157 | From Browns |
5 | 32 | 167 | From Chiefs |
6 | 1 | 177 | From Panthers through Jaguars |
7 | 10 | 230 | From Falcons via Browns and Cardinals |
7 | 12 | 232 | From Broncos via Texans and 49ers |
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Round 1, pick No. 3 (from Patriots): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Projected trade with the Patriots: No. 11, No. 23 and a 2025 first-rounder for No. 3, a 2024 sixth-rounder (No. 180) and a 2025 fifth-rounder
The Vikings want a quarterback. Ownership has been and will continue to be involved in the conversations leading up to this pick.
Moving up to select Maye at No. 3 is dependent on multiple factors. First, the Commanders would have to prefer LSU’s Jayden Daniels or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy at No. 2. Second, the Patriots would have to value the pick allotment more than any available player. And third, the Vikings’ offer would have to trump that of the Denver Broncos or Las Vegas Raiders.
None of these is a given, which is why predicting this is so difficult. Washington could take Maye. The Patriots could prefer Maye to a package of picks. And a team like the Broncos could swing massively with a package that could even include star cornerback Patrick Surtain.
If the Commanders take Maye at No. 2, the Patriots could stick and pick Daniels at No. 3. That would likely leave the Vikings and Broncos in a standoff for McCarthy. Miss there and the Vikings would look at a defensive player at No. 11 and potentially a quarterback like Michael Penix Jr. at No. 23. These are all possibilities. But the one that makes the biggest statement is aggressively moving up the board for Maye, who understands the advantages of Minnesota’s infrastructure.
GO DEEPER
Drake Maye’s connection to QB coach Josh McCown adds intrigue to Vikings’ draft plans
Vikings….how bad do you want Drake Maye? https://t.co/KEQNm2cdyz
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) April 21, 2024
Round 4, No. 108: Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
Waiting to pick again until the fourth round felt miserable, but the run on defenders begins here. This is not a deep off-ball linebacker class, but Gray is one of the better options. He was a multiyear captain at UNC, where linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen called him “an alpha male who loves football. Crazy aggressive with a huge football IQ.” You can easily envision Maye and Gray assimilating into the Vikings’ environment together the way Jordan Addison and Mekhi Blackmon (USC) did last year.
Round 5, No. 150 (from New Orleans Saints): Justin Eboigbe, DT, Alabama
Projected trade with the Saints: No. 129 for No. 150 and No. 168
What are the odds the No. 129 pick becomes a difference-maker? Historical probabilities would suggest the odds are quite low. So, why not allow an overconfident team like the Saints to move up to No. 129 and get another dart to throw at the board?
Eboigbe’s medical evaluation might get in the way. He suffered a herniated disc in October 2022, and the injury pushed into his spinal cord. He underwent surgery, wore a neck brace followed by a bone stem device, returned in 2023 and produced in Nick Saban’s final season in Tuscaloosa. He’s a big guy who moves like a little guy, and he is versatile. Defensive…
This article was originally published by a theathletic.com . Read the Original article here. .