Questions Answered: Vikings Draft Shocker, New QB’s Jersey Number, Shaquill Griffin
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the April 1st edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Vikings Draft Shocker, New QB’s Jersey Number, Shaquill Griffin
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: If the Vikings have a draft shocker, what do you think that will be?
Answer: Jayden Daniels at Pick No. 4 or No. 5
The NFL draft community has spent the last month assuming Daniels to Washington is a done deal because offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury enjoys mobile quarterbacks. But what if that’s overblown?
There’s a reasonable chance that the draftboard returns to its original order — Caleb Williams at No. 1 and Drake Maye at No. 2 — sending Daniels on a mini-tumble. The New England Patriots could then scoop J.J. McCarthy at No. 3 — New England has had luck with Michigan quarterbacks — leaving Daniels for the Vikes.
We’ll lock that in as our draft shocker.
Q: Which jersey number will the new rookie quarterback wear?
Answer: Probably No. 1 or No. 2.
Based on current player numbers, these digits will be available to the new guy:
- 1
- 2
- 8
- 17
- 19
No. 10 isn’t available because Fran Tarkenton wore it, and it is retired — rightfully so. Perhaps Tarkenton would allow Drake Maye, for example, to wear his beloved number. We shall see.
Otherwise, No. 1 or No. 2 are the safer bets. The new guy may avoid Kirk Cousins’ numbers just because. And 17 + 19 are a bit funky. That leaves us with the theory of No. 1 or No. 2.
Q: Will new cornerback Shaquill Griffin start in 2024?
A: Yes, probably.
Minnesota employs Byron Murphy, Mekhi Blackmon, Akayleb Evans, and Andrew Booth as playable corners at the moment. Plus Griffin, of course. Griffin has more starting experience than most and is actually quite productive despite a handful of different teams in the last couple of seasons.
Pressed for a spring prediction at cornerback, we’d predict Murphy and Griffin on the outside, Blackmon in the slot, with Evans and Booth as reservist options.
Meanwhile, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could get really bold and funky by signing Xavien Howard or Stephon Gilmore at, well, any time, really. Both men have ties to Brian Flores.
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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