B+
Minnesota Vikings
A masterclass at the trade table lands the Vikings a B+.
by wbwychor ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 14 picks
· 3 steals
· 4 reaches
Give the war room a raise for the dealing alone. The Vikings came out ahead on every exchange that mattered, and it was not close. No fireworks, but a solid B+.
Davis has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. The Vikings indulged a want in Smith while a need in quarterback, tight end and other spots stayed open. Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Monheim.
They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but quarterback.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a sticky cover corner. More want than need.
By-the-book stuff, Kris Jenkins at No. 48 squarely in line with his ranking. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Of all the spots to shop, they chose DT-EDGE. Maason Smith in pick 96 leaves quarterback, tight end and other spots for later.
They bypassed pressing needs at quarterback, tight end and other spots to take Javon Solomon, an OLB-EDGE that was not the priority.
A big swing on Darius Robinson at Round 4, Pick 8, well ahead of any board in the building. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They paid sticker price for Sataoa Laumea in pick No. 130, and that is fine. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
They took James Williams at par in the 139th pick, which is nothing to complain about. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Johnny Dixon is a better player than slot 141 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
They did well to land Malik Mustapha in pick No. 148, just ahead of his grade. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Moose Muhammad III in the 160th pick lands just on the right side of the ledger. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Isaiah Davis at Round 5, Pick 29 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A tidy bit of business in slot 179, where Jasheen Davis graded well above the range. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Tanor Bortolini at pick 203 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They barely believed it either: Jonah Monheim still on the board at No. 230. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.