Oct 21, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) stands on the field before a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports.
The 2024 NFL Draft is less than four weeks away.
With the event inching closer and closer, mock drafts are rolling in fast and furious. This Vikings mock draft was conducted on the Pro Football Focus simulator in an attempt to land Minnesota’s QB of the future while also bringing in quality depth to their defense.
TRADE
Perhaps this is a long shot, but in this simulation, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy went with the first three picks, thus causing Drake Maye to fall down the board. New York opted to take WR Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick, so Minnesota moves up to No. 7 to snatch their quarterback before another team can do so. Meanwhile, Tennessee moves down a few spots, gets a few extra picks, and still lands one of the top offensive tackles in Taliese Fuaga.
The Vikings may have enough talent to get by at defensive tackle in 2024, but it’s time to start thinking about the future at the position. Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton is a ferocious pass rusher in the middle and will be an excellent complement to Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel off the edge.
The Vikings need to find a way to be more productive in the running game, especially if they will be relying on a rookie QB under center this season. The Vikings did sign Aaron Jones in free agency, but this selection gives them a very strong trio.
Can lightning strike twice for the Vikings at the linebacker position? They nailed the signing of Ivan Pace following the draft, and Ty’Ron Hopper offers a similar skillset. Despite being undersized, Hopper is a ridiculous athlete, a vicious tackler, and offers tremendous upside as a blitzer. Sound familiar?
Everyone knows Christian McCaffrey, the star 49ers running back who just won Offensive Player of the Year. Well, his brother, Luke, is now headed to the NFL and hoping to turn heads with his own skillset. McCaffrey is a capable slot receiver with natural speed and very sure hands.
The Vikings need to add depth to their interior offensive line at some point in the draft. Throughout his career at Wisconsin, Tanor Bortolini has played at least 179 snaps at every position on the offensive line other than left tackle. He took over the full-time center role in 2023 for the Badgers, but his versatility to move all over the line would be welcomed in Minnesota.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Focus and Sports Reference CFB.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.