Vikings Called “Perfect Place” for One Rookie QB
Dustin Baker
|
The Minnesota Vikings own nine picks entering the 2024 NFL Draft, and most expect the very first one to be used on a quarterback of the future.
Vikings Called “Perfect Place” for One Rookie QB
With any luck, that prospect will be Drake Maye of North Carolina, as the Vikings were called the “perfect place” for the 21-year-old this week, according to ESPN and its sourcing.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler published a lengthy analysis of all quarterbacks in the upcoming draft on Tuesday, and Minnesota was specifically mentioned regarding Maye. “Multiple evaluators pointed out Minnesota is the perfect place for Maye in that regard, should the Vikings move up to get him. Scouts noted he’s smart, relaxed and even witty in interviews,” Fowler wrote.
In addition to J.J. McCarthy of Michigan, Maye has rapidly become a draft darling for Minnesota, so much so that fans believe the club’s choice in eight days is a binary choice between the two. McCarthy (+110) is the favorite among oddsmakers to land with the Vikings, while Maye isn’t far behind (+350).
On March 13th, Kirk Cousins formally left Minnesota, signing with the Atlanta Falcons for four years and $180 million. He isn’t coming back. Two days later, Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulled the trigger on a pre-draft trade, grabbing an additional 1st-Round pick from the Houston Texans while offloading two 2nd-Rounders in the deal, plus a late-round pick swap.
Now, fans wonder which team will do business with Minnesota for the would-be trade, as the Washington Commanders (Pick No. 2), the New England Patriots (Pick No. 3), the Arizona Cardinals (Pick No. 4), or the Los Angeles Chargers (Pick No. 5) are likely companions.
Along with Maye and McCarthy, Caleb Williams (USC), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), and Bo Nix (Oregon) are expected to go off the board in Rounds 1 and 2. Most Vikings loyalists believe the purple team will end up with one of the six.
Per Fowler’s reporting, an AFC scout said about Maye’s draft profile, “Super competitive and will rush for 400 to 500 yards a year. He’s just never played big in big moments, doesn’t have that signature win to elevate his team, though he wasn’t always in the position to provide that.”
Meanwhile, Maye could experience a mini-slide down the draftboard. Recent mock drafts have suggested as such — even if the consensus, for over a year, claimed that Maye would be selected second after USC’s Caleb Williams at No. 1.
Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline wrote about Maye-related sentiment from the NFL Combine, “The big news coming out of Indianapolis is the way teams are hot and cold on quarterback Drake Maye, who was expected to be a top-three pick. I was told at the combine that the New England Patriots would trade back if Jayden Daniels did not drop to their slot, the third pick of the draft. Just today, I heard further that several scouts from the Patriots organization are not fans of Maye, who really struggled down the stretch of the season. The fact that several people mentioned in conversation, not all, are sold on Maye makes this significant.”
Any Maye tumble would assuredly benefit Minnesota. And according to Fowler’s evaluator theory, the man would be perfect in the Twin Cities.
There’s an Absurd New Vikings Mock Draft
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.