Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks during a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
It won’t be the Washington Commanders.
General manager Adam Peters’ team owns the draft’s No. 2 overall pick, and amid the last few days, his stance has become evident: Washington will stick-and-pick at the organic spot, probably a quarterback of the future. So, they’re close to out as a Minnesota Vikings trade partner.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweeted Tuesday, two days before the 2024 NFL Draft, “Teams trying to move up for QB and calling Washington are being told they are not moving. Washington’s GM Adam Peters has publicly stated the Commanders feel great about staying at No. 2 and picking their QB.”
Ordinarily, during the final week before the draft, smokescreens are all the rage. But this is the reverse smokescreen — the Commanders are apparently content selecting a quarterback, likely North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
Five days ago, The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov essentially tweeted the same thing as Russini, a precursor to what seems to be the inevitable: “Commanders GM Adam Peters said ‘they’re real close’ to finalizing who they will select with the No. 2 overall pick. He expects to have a decision by early next week. He confirmed they will stay at No. 2 and doesn’t see a trade-down scenario being in play.”
Ergo, with the draft just hours away, the Commanders’ next storyline is “Who’s it going to be?” at quarterback — Maye or Daniels.
One month ago, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn hinted on NFL Network that his team would be open for trade business. He said, “I would anticipate (GM Adam Peters) fielding these calls as it goes through, and usually it’s not necessarily later than No. 6 or 7, but those people who are usually in the top four or five, there’s somebody that somebody has targeted, and I think it’s mostly like ‘Well, I’ve got to take a shot!'”
Quinn added, “A lot of times it’s no, like ‘Thanks for calling’ but it is part of the process, and you have to do your due diligence to listen and to find out just to make sure, like is there something that you just couldn’t refuse. I think anybody in personnel with the skills of Adam, they’re going to listen, but there’s only so many things that you’d consider, and it’d better be really good.”
But a lot can change in a month, especially during draft season.
The Vikings would-be trade partners are down to the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Chargers, and perhaps Tennessee Titans or Atlanta Falcons if their quarterback tumbles a bit on draft night.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.