Latest NFL.com Mock Draft for Vikings Is Sweet — if QB Is Not the Pick
Dustin Baker
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The 2024 NFL Draft is 62 days away, and the Minnesota Vikings will choose 11th if they don’t trade up or down the board that evening.
Latest NFL.com Mock Draft for Vikings Is Sweet — if QB Is Not the Pick
Per short-term and long-term roster needs, Minnesota is expected to select a quarterback, defensive lineman, or possibly cornerback with the pick, and the 2024 NFL Combine will shine more light on prospects’ profiles next week.
But according to NFL.com’s latest mock draft, the Vikings should jump into the draft with two feet by choosing an EDGE rusher, specifically Dallas Turner of Alabama.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah sent Turner to the Vikings and explained, “I wouldn’t rule out the Vikings drafting a quarterback early, but I’m not sure they’ll have the ammunition to trade up for one. With Danielle Hunter heading for free agency, they address the need for pass-rush help.”
Heading into the 2024 offseason, Minnesota has two EDGE defenders under contract: Patrick Jones II and Andre Carter II. Neither is considered startable in 2024 unless one or both fire up a spring and summer sculpted by Norse gods.
Minnesota could also make life easier by re-signing Danielle Hunter to an extension — a decision that should be rendered in the next 2.5 weeks — cutting any EDGE-related fears in half. However, if the Vikings cannot finalize an extension with Hunter, they’ll need two starting outside linebackers, either from free agency or the draft.
These are the perks for Turner:
- He’s young; he turned 21 three weeks ago.
- He’s fast. Really fast.
- He stops the run and is not a one-trick pass-rushing pony.
- Alabama picks rarely flop.
VikingsTerritory’s Nate Powalie recently wrote about Turner, “The Vikings need someone to partner with Danielle Hunter (assuming he stays with the team going into 2024), and Turner will fit the bill immediately. His frame and run-stopping abilities need some development, but he has great lateral agility and change-of-direction skills.”
The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez described Turner’s scouting report in January, “Dallas Turner is a versatile edge defender that aligned in multiple positions along the defensive front—he will also align in a two, three, or four-point stance depending on the offensive formation and his specific responsibility. At Alabama, Turner was responsible for both setting the edge of the defense against the run and rushing the quarterback. Turner appears to be most natural when he’s rushing the QB and that is where his physical tools and plus-level traits showcase the best.”
The Vikings haven’t used 1st- or 2nd-Round draft capital on an EDGE rusher in almost two decades. The last guy was Erasmus James in 2005.
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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