Questions Answered: Ignoring Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy Smoke, Dallas Turner
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the April 4th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Ignoring Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy Smoke, Dallas Turner
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: I saw the report that Minnesota did not meet with Jayden Daniels last week. Does that mean he’s not on their draftboard?
Answer: It means that it might be a foregone conclusion that the Washington Commanders will draft Daniels.
KSTP’s Darren Wolfson said about Daniels on the Mackey and Judd Show this week, “The idea was, after his pro day last week, to spend some one-on-one time with him. That never happened.”
The reality is that Minnesota might be laser-focused on the “other” three quarterbacks in their draft orbit: Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, and Michael Penix Jr. In fact, all three make more sense in a Kevin O’Connell-led offense than Daniels.
Still, we agree it’s a bit odd that no formal meeting with Daniels occurred.
Q: Do you believe or buy into the J.J. McCarthy to Vikings hype?
Answer: Yes — absolutely.
We believe the next Vikings quarterback will be Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy. Plain and simple. McCarthy positively fits within Minnesota’s offensive plan, and the man feels like an actual Kevin O’Connell clone. The two men have the same personality — happiness, culture-focused, and eternal optimism.
What’s more, Minnesota may not have to donate three 1st-Rounders for his services if it does trade business with the Arizona Cardinals or Los Angeles Chargers. In that vein, McCarthy could be the “compromise” pick, enabling the purple to perhaps keep the 2025 1st-Rounder, which will likely be a high pick at this time next year.
The McCarthy-Minnesota hype is very real.
Q: Would you be disappointed if EDGE Dallas Turner is the Vikings’ pick at No. 11?
A: We’d be disappointed they didn’t trade up for a quarterback but not sad about Turner — the prospect.
Turner will be excellent in the NFL; there’s just no doubt about it. The Vikings haven’t drafted an EDGE rusher with 1st- or 2nd-Round capital since 2005, so it’s probably time.
However, this draft should be all about securing a quarterback of the future. Next year’s draft isn’t quite stuffed to the gills with quarterback talent, so general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should get his guy now.
On the whole, though, Turner won’t disappoint Vikings fans.
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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.
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