Vikings NFL Draft
The Minnesota Vikings have a Week 18 date in Detroit this weekend and are three-point underdogs versus Dan Campbell’s team.
If Minnesota loses, it will pick between 9th and 13th in the 2024 NFL Draft. A win would shove the pick between 12th and 32nd.
And while the draft lead-up still has about four months remaining, an early darling has emerged for the Vikings, at least per experts’ mock draft, and that is Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.
NFL Mock Draft Database logs every prominent mock draft under the sun, filed by draft, team, etc. At the moment, the Vikings are most linked to Nix by popular consensus.
Nix showcased a glorious Fiesta Bowl on Monday, helping the Ducks smash then-undefeated Liberty 45-6. In his final collegiate game, Nix delivered 5 touchdown passes on 363 passing yards and will now presumably set sights on the draft process. He’s projected to be selected somewhere in Round 1.
Thankfully for the Vikings’ sake, if they’re interested in Nix, he’ll likely be available at Minnesota’s organic draft spot. A lot can change between now and the draft, but Nix probably won’t get talked into the Top 10, and hence, the Vikings could choose Nix wherever they land per draft seeding.
Pro Football Network authored a mock draft right before Christmas, and PFN’s Ian Valentino wrote about Nix to Minnesota, “Bo Nix has been terrific the last two seasons, boasting efficiency numbers that are almost hard to believe. He’ll get ridiculed for checking down more than hunting big plays, but that inner playmaker who can create on his own is still in there.”
All told, Nix tabulated 15,352 passing yards at Auburn and Oregon, with 113 touchdown passes and 26 interceptions. He also uses his legs, carrying the rock 405 times in five seasons for 1,613 yards and 38 scores.
Pro Football Focus also connected Nix to the Vikings in December. PFF’s Trevor Sikkema explained, “Unless the Vikings continue to ride with pending free agent Kirk Cousins, they’ll be heavily interested in the 2024 quarterback market. Nix once again had a very impressive year as Oregon’s signal-caller. He finished the season with a 92.2 passing grade and an 87.3 passing grade under pressure, making only one turnover-worthy play under pressure all season. While he brings NFL-caliber arm talent, his season was not as demanding as it was for others. His season average depth of target was below 7.0, and his percentage of total passing yards that came through the air was below 40%.”
Nix will turn 24 in February and might need footwork refinement at the pro level. He’s 6’2″ and 220 pounds and has tremendous arm strength.
The Vikings are also frequently linked to University of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in NFL mock drafts, and McCarthy will be in action next Monday in the National Championship against Washington.
Minnesota hasn’t drafted a quarterback with 1st-Round capital in 10 years.
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.