The Minnesota Vikings have been the subject of the rumor mill recently, with Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter’s impending free agent statuses and Justin Jefferson’s contract extension all hot topics. This season is a pivotal one for the Vikings after a down 2023 season, and there’s no easy path for them to take.
How do they approach this 2024 NFL Mock Draft with all of their needs in mind?
This mock draft was made with Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator.
Minnesota Vikings 2024 NFL Mock Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 11:Â J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
- Round 2, Pick 42:Â Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
- Round 4, Pick 109:Â Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
- Round 4, Pick 130:Â Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
- Round 5, Pick 156:Â Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU
- Round 5, Pick 166: Gottlieb Ayedze, G, Maryland
- Round 6, Pick 179:Â Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Purdue
- Round 7, Pick 228:Â Lideatrick Griffin, WR, Mississippi State
Minnesota Vikings 7-Round 2024 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 11:Â J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Whether or not the Vikings bring back Kirk Cousins, quarterback has to remain one of their top priorities. We’ll see how J.J. McCarthy’s stock fluctuates, but keep in mind that quarterbacks have fallen well below where mock drafts frequently place them, especially if McCarthy is the QB4 off the board.
However, McCarthy is the kind of QB that Kevin O’Connell could succeed with and coach to play at a high level. With Minnesota’s offensive line playing better than in recent years, McCarthy would have time to operate — something he didn’t often have at Michigan in big games.
Round 2, Pick 42: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
If the Vikings pass on a pass rusher in the first round, it’ll be high on their list later in the draft. This class has too much talent not to come out of the draft with at least one, and the Vikings need it. If Danielle Hunter walks, Minnesota needs another premier pass rusher it can build around up front.
The “other” Alabama edge prospect is their answer to their pass rush problem in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, as Chris Braswell parlays a productive season into a second-round pick.
Round 4, Pick 109:Â Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
The Vikings got an exciting rookie year from undrafted linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., but they need another talented player next to him to boost their defensive front. Former third-round pick Brian Asamoah struggled with injury, and many of their depth players are pending free agents.
Jaylan Ford can step right in as a meaningful contributor, handle many of their MIKE duties, and let Pace be more of a movable chess piece.
Round 4, Pick 130:Â Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
Minnesota has some corner talent in Byron Murphy and enjoyed some flashes from Mekhi Blackmon as a rookie, but it’s clear that the room needs more talent and competitive depth.
Elijah Jones is a lean cornerback at 6’1″ and 185 pounds, but he has the length, ball skills, and competitiveness that will make him a coveted prospect for Brian Flores’s scheme.
Round 5, Pick 156:Â Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU
The Vikings had one defensive lineman record double-digit pressures last season and need a boost to their interior pass rush to help create more havoc up front.
Jordan Jefferson isn’t perfect, but he has the athleticism to shoot gaps with quickness and has flashes of great power to overwhelm unsuspecting linemen. His athletic tools allow him to stick inside and be a rotational interior rusher.
Round 5, Pick 166:Â Gottlieb Ayedze, G, Maryland
Regardless of whether the Vikings re-sign Dalton Risner, they’ll need to boost the interior of their offensive line.
A likely tackle-to-guard convert, Gottlieb Aydeze has the athleticism to slide right into the Vikings’ outside zone offense and has the pass-protection chops to start sooner than expected of a Day 3 pick.
Round 6, Pick 179: Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Purdue
I wanted to address this spot earlier, but the board never fell right. However, this feels like a perfect fit of talent and team need here for the Vikings.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. is an ideal fit in the Minnesota offense with his quickness, elusiveness, and ability to play all three downs. He would add the explosive element the Vikings’ run game missed last season.
Round 7, Pick 228:Â Lideatrick Griffin, WR, Mississippi State
With Brandon Powell hitting free agency, the Vikings need to replenish their WR depth while providing a spark for the return game. A former All-American returner, Lideatrick Griffin, could add that return ability and serve as an explosive weapon in Minnesota’s receiving corps.
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