Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell (left) and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah react during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be in the spotlight in the next two months as he is steering the franchise through a critical offseason. The looming departure of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and the acquisition of his successor in his third Vikings draft will shape the organization’s future.
The Vikings universe was turned upside down on Monday when reports of Cousins’ intention to join the Atlanta Falcons surfaced. After six seasons of having the four-time Pro Bowler under center, it might be time to find the next passer.
That, of course, can be done in the draft as the options in free agency and on the trade market are limited, although Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garappolo, Sam Darnold, and Trey Lance have all been linked to the Vikings, and it seems as if a player has thrown a pass in his life, he is good enough to enter the rumor mill.
Adofo-Mensah is a former Wall Street trader who has made some risky moves in his two years in charge of the Vikings. Another one is required to fill the expected Cousins-sized hole on the roster.
Tony Catalina from Pro Football Network envisions Adofo-Mensah making a big swing and landing UNC’s star passer Drake Maye with the third overall pick in his latest mock draft. In exchange for the third overall pick, the Vikings would send picks 11 and 42, as well as the 2025 first-rounder, to New England. A hefty but still fair price.
Drake Maye has some real fans around the league, with multiple teams putting the North Carolina QB on the same level as Williams.
The Vikings share that feeling in this scenario, packaging their first-round pick and other high-ranking selections to swap with the New England Patriots to get their guy.
Maye looks to be the future in Minnesota regardless of what happens with Kirk Cousins, and the Vikings are aggressive in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft to secure the face of their franchise.
Tony Catalina
Having at least an average quarterback is paramount to building a successful team in the NFL, and employing an elite quarterback guarantees annual playoff contention. Drafting higher and a higher-rated prospect doesn’t automatically secure one of those top passers, but that shouldn’t prevent the Vikings from attempting the risky move instead of trying to do it the Vikings way, signing a fading veteran and pairing him with a mid-round draft pick.
The Vikings have never drafted a quarterback in the top ten, which could very well be why the franchise has historically had problems at the most crucial spot.
Maye possesses outstanding physical tools, paring a strong arm with decent mobility, size, and the ability to create plays off schedule. Concerns include underwhelming footwork, leading to issues with consistency. In the last two seasons as a starter at North Carolina, Maye has racked up almost 8,000 passing yards, 62 passing touchdowns, and 16 interceptions, adding over 1,100 rushing yards and 16 scores on the ground.
The Bleacher Report scouting department wrote about the prospect: “Overall, Maye is a supremely talented passer. He has the athleticism, arm talent and baseline processing skills to become a weapon at the next level. All he needs to do is cut out some of the “doing too much” plays. Maye has the skill set to fit in any system and develop into a star.”
Maye has the skill set to become one of the top quarterbacks in the league if he can clear up some issues. At age 21, there should be plenty of time to develop into the best version of himself.
The Vikings provide wonderful surroundings for signal-callers. Whenever in doubt, the passer can just toss the ball to Justin Jefferson, and if he is somehow covered, there are still Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. Also helpful is the coaching staff, as Kevin O’Connell, head coach, is a former NFL quarterback, just like newly hired QB coach Josh McCown, who coached Maye in high school.
It is risky to pay three high draft picks on one player, but the Vikings need a spark at the most important position, and they shouldn’t be scared to spend big. If he’s working out, nobody will care about the cost anyway.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt