Vikings Meet with Next Top QB Prospect
All eyes in Minnesota are on the NFL draft. The three-day event will begin on April 25 with the first round, and the franchise’s fate, at least for the next few years, could be decided on that day. The Vikings acquired another first-round selection, and the goal is to package both first-rounders, and perhaps some change, to land a top-five pick and, with that, a top QB prospect.
Vikings Meet with Next Top QB Prospect
The rumor mill is going crazy. In the last couple of months, every available quarterback has been connected to the Vikings, either draft prospects or potential names circulating in trade talks. Kirk Cousins’ departure certainly assisted the gossip even further.
Minnesota’s interest in Michigan passer J.J. McCarthy is well known. The quarterback coaches were present at his pro day, and news about a private workout with the national champion surfaced last week.
Obviously, McCarthy isn’t the only player the Vikings are doing their homework on. Jayden Daniels is the next guy, according to Ian Rapoport on X: “Immediately following his Pro Day, LSU QB and potential Top 3 pick Jayden Daniels is scheduled to meet with the Patriots, Commanders, Giants, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders, per his agent Ron Butler. Daniels has not previously met with any teams.”
USC’s Caleb Williams is the overwhelming favorite to be selected first overall by the Chicago Bears with the draft pick they secured by trading away last year’s top choice to Carolina. After that, the draft really begins. McCarthy, Daniels, and North Carolina’s Drake Maye are all potential second-overall picks.
The betting odds favor Daniels to be picked with Washington’s second pick, and for good reason. He had a marvelous 2024 campaign, resulting in the Heisman Trophy. Experiencing a late breakout, Daniels passed for 3,812 yards and 40 scores while only throwing four INTs. Those crazy passing numbers were supplemented by 1,134 rushing yards and 10 more touchdowns.
Daniels features outstanding athleticism. He should be one of the NFL’s elite rushing QBs when the new season starts. Unusual for a mobile QB with his level of athleticism is that he possesses an outstanding arm with touch, accuracy, and enough power to be a serious threat in the pocket.
PFF’s Nick Akridge summarized the dynamic player in two sentences: “Jayden Daniels is a game-changing type of athlete on the run and in the pocket. It’s the combination one dreams about when building an ideal quarterback in this generation.”
It would likely require the Vikings to trade with the Commanders unless Washington surprisingly chooses another player. DraftKings ranks the Vikings third in odds to land the LSU prospect.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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