B+
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings worked the phones like thieves and earned a B+.
by RB ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 1 steals
· 3 reaches
The trade table was a mismatch, and the Vikings were on the right end of it, hauling in a fortune in surplus value.
They will answer for taking DT-EDGE early while edge rusher, safety and other spots went begging. Reaching for Gray left real value on the table behind him. If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through edge rusher.
Landing Murphy II that late papers over a lot of smaller sins.
A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 19th pick they get a home-run threat at receiver. A clean fit for the roster.
They paid sticker price for J.J. McCarthy in pick No. 42, and that is fine. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Byron Murphy II in No. 51. The roster fit checks out.
A surprising call. With edge rusher, safety and other spots still to address, they spent pick 77 on Maason Smith, a DT-EDGE they were not short of.
A big swing on Cedric Gray at the Round 4 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
They paid up for Beaux Limmer at Round 4, Pick 30 when waiting would have done the job. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Jaylin Simpson. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Jaylen Wright in the 160th overall pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. A need, and now a little less of one.
Roger Rosengarten at No. 165 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A straight-up fair deal on Jordan Jefferson at the 179th overall pick, value and slot in agreement. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Matthew Jones in slot 230 is fair value, right on his grade. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.