Dustin Baker’s Vikings Mock Draft 2.0 | 2024
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings own nine picks heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has much more capital this year than last.
Minnesota needs a quarterback after Kirk Cousins departed one month ago, and most expect Adofo-Mensah to trade up in the draft for a Top 4 prospect.
Dustin Baker’s Vikings Mock Draft 2.0 | 2024
So, here’s the best stab at a predictive mock draft for the 2024 Vikings. One trade was made with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Trade: The Vikings send the 11th and 23rd picks to the Los Angeles Chargers for the 5th overall pick.
Round 1: J.J. McCarthy (QB)
Pick Number = 5th
College = Michigan
Via the first mock, Drake Maye was the target, but J.J McCarthy is the choice in mid-April, as most Vikings fans believe the next quarterback will be one of those. They’re probably not wrong.
McCarthy can watch and learn for a year behind Sam Darnold, and by 2025, the McCarthy era in Minneapolis can be totally green-lit.
Round 4: T’Vondre Sweat (DT)
Pick Number = 108
College = Texas
Yes, this is the man who ran into a legal conundrum last week, and no, it isn’t the wisest idea for Minnesota to sign on his dotted line. But with Ed Ingram’s checkered past in 2022 and Jordan Addison’s flare-up last summer, Minnesota’s front office isn’t afraid to pull the trigger on questionable prospects.
Sweat is precisely that.
His value at Round 4 would be tremendous, and in this mock draft, the Vikings provide a second chance.
Round 4: Javon Baker (WR)
Pick Number = 129th
College = UCF
Baker is a mid-to-late-round darling among draft heads and fantasy football managers. He fits the “sleeper” role quite well. He’s not extraordinarily fast, but Baker is a pristine route runner and contested catch guy.
Had the Vikings signed a player like Tyler Boyd this offseason, perhaps this pick would be different, but let’s lock in Baker as a long-term WR3 candidate.
Round 5: Isaac Guerendo (RB)
Pick Number = 157th
College = Louisville
Aaron Jones lessened the Vikings’ urgency for a running back fix, but he’s only scheduled to be in town for a year. He’ll also turn 30 in December. So, let’s go Guerendo here for long-term RB depth.
VikingsTerritory’s Janik Eckardt recently wrote about Guerendo, “At 6’0″ and 221 lbs, Isaac Guerendo possesses a prototypical running back frame. His combine performance, which included a 40-yard dash of 4.33 seconds and a 41.5-inch vertical jump, opened some eyes. Because of his physical tools, pass-catching skills, and ability to explode in zone schemes, he would be a wonderful addition to the overhauled running back room.”
Round 5: Javion Cohen (OG)
Pick Number = 167th
College = Miami
This is a reasonable candidate to vie for an LG spot this summer versus Blake Brandel, who seems poised to start for the 2024 Vikings.
Cohen is known for footwork and smarts, though he’ll have to work on his pass protection as a pro.
Round 6: Khristian Boyd (DT)
Pick Number = 177th
College = Northern Iowa
We hedged the bet here at defensive tackle after Minnesota’s underwhelming free agency at the spot. In addition to Sweat, the Vikings add two DTs via the draft.
VT’s Adam New recently detailed about Boyd: “The 6’4,’ 317-pound Boyd has six seasons of college experience. He may have played at a small school but has been getting NFL buzz since using his push-pull move to win a bunch of reps at the Shrine Bowl. Boyd has real ‘sleeper’ potential, hence the swarm of teams around him as we approach the draft. With two picks in the fourth round, the Vikings could be well-placed to make a move for him. When Day 3 of the drafts starts, Boyd will be a name to keep an eye on.”
Round 7: Omar Speights (LB)
Pick Number = 230th
College = LSU
Minnesota has drafted a handful of LSU players in the last four years, and the cycle remains alive with Speights. He’s not much of a pass rusher yet, but perhaps that develops in time.
Round 7: Kingsley Eguakun (C)
Pick Number = 232nd
College = Miami
Finally, a lottery ticket at center. Garrett Bradbury’s final season in Minnesota is scheduled for 2024, and with any luck, a late-rounder like Eguakun can climb the depth chart after watching and learning for a season.
5 Vikings on the Hot Seat in 2024
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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