B+
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings answered their biggest question with McCarthy. Grade: B+.
by isu101 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
They finally answered the question that shadows every other one. J.J. McCarthy is the Vikings' quarterback, full stop.
They are betting Thomas proves the room right and everyone else wrong. The Smith-Wade value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere.
They punted on offensive lineman, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. David Long Jr. gives the group a proven body among the projects.
Bottom line, more hits than misses and a roster nudged the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 21st pick they get a passer to set the clock by, though the board says they badly overpaid. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
A tidy little value on Chop Robinson in pick 42, a step better than break-even. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
A premium they did not need to pay, Darius Robinson a notch or two before his time. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A tidy bit of business in slot 130, where Malik Washington graded well above the range. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
A market-rate tight end, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Theo Johnson. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Keith Randolph Jr. at the Round 5 slot is right where the board had him, plain and simple. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
No drama and no debate, Edefuan Ulofoshio went about where he belonged in the 157th overall pick. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Jaylen Wright at No. 166 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Kitan Oladapo in the 179th overall pick. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Taking Chau Smith-Wade in No. 186 is close to grand larceny; a cornerback that good had no business lasting this long. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Xavier Thomas in pick 227 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.