Vikings Schedule Final Meeting with Top QB Prospect
It’s the worst-kept secret in the NFL: the Minnesota Vikings want to acquire a quarterback in the 2024 draft. While they haven’t come out to say that, the decision-makers have done everything possible to clarify that. Trading for a second pick in the first round to reload the trade ammo, meeting with most QB prospects, and signing a true bridge quarterback rather than a long-term option all indicate the arrival of a rookie passer on April 25.
Vikings Schedule Final Meeting with Top QB Prospect
Those private meetings and workouts with the top prospects Drake Maye (North Carolina) and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) have been reported ad nauseam. Still, the purple team failed to connect with Jayden Daniels, LSU’s Heisman winner. Ian Rapoport tweeted on Thursday morning: “More on Jayden Daniels, as the intrigue picks up: The Vikings have now scheduled a private meeting with the LSU star and Heisman Trophy winner, per his agent.”
Rapoport reported a couple of weeks ago that Daniels and the Vikings were supposed to meet after his pro day: “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.”
That meeting never happened. The newly arranged private workout with Daniels will be scheduled on Thursday, April 18, in Louisiana.
Daniels is the favorite to become the new QB1 in Washington following the trade of Sam Howell to Seattle. The new regime arrived and surely wants to find their guy, especially considering that Washington hasn’t had any consistency at the most crucial position since Kirk Cousins left in 2018.
With the second overall pick, the Commanders will get the first choice behind Caleb Williams, who, barring any shocking developments, will be the first QB taken by the Chicago Bears. Daniels’ threats are Maye and McCarthy. The latter has been a riser in the media’s pre-draft cycle, while Maye has been a highly-touted QB prospect since last year.
The fascinating aspect of Daniels’ skill set is his explosiveness. Few quarterbacks have his speed. He is a homerun threat on any given down and tallied over 1,100 rushing yards in 2023. Daniels reached the endzone 11 times last season (21 rushing scores in two campaigns at LSU).
In addition to his athleticism, he is a rare mobile quarterback who is lethal from the pocket. His best throw is the sideline go route, where he connected with presumed first-rounders Mailk Nabers and Brian Thomas all season. With a solid arm paired with precise mechanics and a good feel for the game, Daniels is more than just a running quarterback.
Through his final two collegiate seasons following his transfer from Arizona State to LSU, Daniels threw for 57 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, showcasing ball security. His 2023 numbers of 50 total touchdowns and only four interceptions are remarkable.
The Vikings currently hold the fourth-best odds to land Daniels, but he would likely require a massive trade package for the second overall draft slot.
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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