The 8 Big Draft Questions Facing Vikings
Dustin Baker
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The 2024 NFL Draft is four weeks away, and fans will probably learn the identity of the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback of the future for life after Kirk Cousins.
The 8 Big Draft Questions Facing Vikings
Of course, the Vikings could swerve and hold off on a quarterback, instead banking all hope on Sam Darnold, though that feels unlikely.
But quarterback isn’t the only question for Minnesota entering the draft. These are the big eight questions for the purple team heading into the event, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most important question).
8. Is Bradbury’s Successor Drafted?
Garrett Bradbury’s contract runs out after the 2025 season, scheduling the man for free agency. A 1st-Round pick in 2019, the Vikings lineman has morphed into a decent center, but nowhere near the sure-fire Pro Bowler one should be when scooped from Round 1.
So, presumably with mid-to-late round capital, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could invest in Bradbury’s eventual replacement. Men like Delmar Glaze (Maryland) and Andrew Raym (Oklahoma) will likely be available on Day 3.
7. What about the Kicker?
The Vikings signed XFL standout kicker Parker Romo to a two-year deal a couple of weeks ago, indicating the job could be his. Meanwhile, Greg Joseph joined the Green Bay Packers — if that can be believed.
But Vikings fans know recent iterations of purple coaching staffs have loved summer kicking competitions, so maybe a rookie kicker will be drafted or found on the UDFA wire to push Romo to the limit. Alabama’s Will Reichard and Jonah Dalmas of Boise State will be on the board.
6. Will a LG Be Found to Compete with Blake Brandel?
Dalton Risner hasn’t re-signed in Minnesota, hinting he won’t return. It could be the Blake Brandel Show in 2024 at left guard after the veteran trenchman inked a three-year deal in free agency.
But like Bradbury above, perhaps Minnesota will draft someone to compete this summer with Brandel or a free agent to be named later. Notably, in later rounds, Michigan has two fine offensive guards awaiting placement in the pros: Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan.
5. Is the Current CB Room Enough?
The Vikings have five playable corners on the depth chart as of March 28th:
- Byron Murphy
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Shaquill Griffin
- Akayleb Evans
- Andrew Booth
That’s a full house. Adofo-Mensah may not have draft capital to splash on a 1st- or 2nd-Rounder, but does he draft a man to shove one off the list above?
4. Do Vikings Hang onto 2025 1st-Rounder?
Most believe the Vikings will trade up at least once more to secure a quarterback from this draft. The price, however, is mysterious. Minnesota could barter with the Patriots and donate three 1st-Rounders for the pick to land Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy.
Otherwise, the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers are open to trading as well — they’ve vocally announced it — so does Adofo-Mensah hang on to next year’s 1st-Round pick?
That’s ultra-important because Minnesota’s record might be trashy with a rookie quarterback on tap to see playing time in 2024, which would translate to a sweet 2025 draft pick(s). It would obviously be better to hang onto that pick. We shall see.
3. Who’s the Trade Partner?
If Minnesota moves up the draft board another time, one of these teams will probably be the dance partner:
- Pick No. 2 = Washington Commanders
- Pick No. 3 = New England Patriots
- Pick No. 4 = Arizona Cardinals
- Pick No. 5 = Los Angeles Chargers
This one is straightforward: which team hands Minnesota a rookie passer, if any?
2. What’s the Trade Price?
Already highlighting the importance of next year’s 1st-Rounder at No. 4 on this list, the second-most important question for Minnesota on draft night it is: how much of the future is leveraged in a trade?
Can the Vikings escape by giving way “only” two 1st-Rounders from this draft? Does the other team need deal sweetener like this year’s 4th-Rounder?
Or — the mini-doomsday scenario — must Adofo-Mensah give the other team everything?
1. Who’s the QB?
The granddaddy of them all: learning the new quarterback’s identity.
Fans seemed to have narrowed the choice in a binary way — Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Are they right, or does Jayden Daniels encounter a bit of a slide? What about not trading up the board and sticking-and-picking Michael Penix Jr. of Washington?
The moment Kirk Cousins tampered-and-signed in Atlanta, every Vikings fan everywhere turned to the draft, wanting to know who will it be for life after Kirk?
They’ll get a verdict in exactly four weeks.
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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