Former Vikings QB Locks in His Rookie QB Endorsement
Dustin Baker
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The 2024 NFL Draft is one week away, and in advance of the event, most fans have a preference for the team’s choice.
Former Vikings QB Locks in His Rookie QB Endorsement
Vikings loyalists expect general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to trade up the board for a quarterback of the future, and if that happens, former Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer has a formal endorsement — Drake Maye.
The North Carolina rookie is nearly a lock to fly off the board in the draft’s first five picks and probably first three. Minnesota would have to send a king’s ransom to the Washington Commanders (Pick No. 2) or New England Patriots (Pick No. 3) for Maye, but he’s evidently worth the squeeze, per Kramer.
The former Viking tweeted Monday, “I would like to see the Vikings get Drake Maye in this draft and build around him. Who do you guys think we draft?”
Five weeks ago, the Vikings watched as quarterback Kirk Cousins, who led the purple team for six seasons, signed with the Atlanta Falcons for four years and $180 million. The next day, Minnesota signed journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold, a presumptive insurance policy for a rookie to be named later. And the latter is a week away.
Thereafter, two days after Cousins left, Adofo-Mensah finagled an unexpected trade, sending two 2nd-Round picks to Houston for the Texans’ 2024 1st-Rounder (Pick No. 23) and a late-round pick swap. Minnesota currently owns the 11th and 23rd picks for draft night on April 25th.
According to the draft community, the next move is to finalize the trade up the board for Maye or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler published a lengthy analysis of all quarterbacks in the upcoming draft on Tuesday, and Minnesota was specifically mentioned regarding Maye. “Multiple evaluators pointed out Minnesota is the perfect place for Maye in that regard, should the Vikings move up to get him. Scouts noted he’s smart, relaxed and even witty in interviews,” Fowler wrote.
Per Fowler’s reporting, an AFC scout said about Maye’s draft profile, “Super competitive and will rush for 400 to 500 yards a year. He’s just never played big in big moments, doesn’t have that signature win to elevate his team, though he wasn’t always in the position to provide that.”
Conveniently, Kramer’s endorsement aligns with the Vikings fans’ preferences. About a month ago, we polled VikingsTwitter, a burly brand of boisterous and intense fans, for their draft desire. Maye was the guy — by a wide margin.
If the Kramer recommendation comes to fruition and fans’ wishes are fulfilled, Minnesota will have spent a Top 10 draft pick on a quarterback for the first time in franchise history. They’ve never done it.
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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