Vikings Meeting with Another Electric QB at Combine
First, it was the news that the Minnesota Vikings would meet with USC’s Caleb Williams.
Vikings Meeting with Another Electric QB at Combine
Now, Vikings fans can add Jayden Daniels to the mix of NFL Combine meetings, a quarterback from LSU who’s expected to fly off the board in the draft’s first three picks.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Wednesday, “LSU Heisman Trophy winning QB Jayden Daniels spent yesterday and today at the Combine meeting with teams such as the Bears, Commanders, Vikings, Jets, Giants, Patriots, Raiders, Seahawks and Saints.”
This is basically a list of every quarterback-needy team in the draft, but at least Minnesota is in the mix.
The Vikings would have to spend a king’s ransom on a trade to land Daniels, but nobody would care too much if Daniels morphs into a franchise quarterback. The most likely destination on the draftboard to trade up for Daniels is probably the New England Patriots. Jerod Mayo’s team has several roster dilemmas to mend, and trading with Minnesota or another team could maximize roster building in New England.
Daniels possesses two marvelous traits yearned for by Vikings faithful and general managers — he can fling the ball from the pocket with ease and also has a running back’s legs and feet. Winning the Heisman Trophy, too, in 2023 helped elevate his draft profile. Unless the NFL Combine is unkind, Daniels will probably fly off the board in the Top 3 or 5 picks.
Two weeks ago, ESPN linked Daniels to the Vikings. Dan Graziano wrote, “Minnesota knows it eventually has to address the quarterback position long term, and the notion of bringing in Daniels to pair with their star LSU alum wideout Justin Jefferson has appeal to some in the organization.”
That was the opening salvo for Daniels-to-Vikings chatter after the Super Bowl. Then, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson sweetened the pot with a tweet, “And Daniels, no surprise, would enjoy landing here = the word.”
If not Daniels, Minnesota could, too, stay put and still draft a quarterback at No. 11. Players like Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), and Bo Nix (Oregon) will likely be available to the Vikings with the organic 11th pick. Tulane’s Michael Pratt, too, could be a 2nd- or 3rd-Round option.
The Vikings have drafted four players from LSU, Daniels’ school, in the last four drafts:
- S Jay Ward (2023)
- DL Jaquelin Roy (2023)
- RG Ed Ingram (2022)
- WR Justin Jefferson (2020)
Minnesota’s quarterback from the last six seasons, Kirk Cousins, is scheduled to hit free agency in two weeks. If not re-signed, the Vikings would be almost guaranteed to draft a quarterback in Rounds 1 or 2 in April.
The NFL Draft is eight weeks away.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.