D-
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings finally solved quarterback, and it carried them to a D-.
by Grady ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
The Vikings lost the trade war and it was not close, handing partners the better end again and again. The math is unkind, and the D- follows.
They have staked the next five years on Drake Maye, which is the only story that really matters here. The cost of the Gore Jr. reach is exactly the players who went right after him.
A whole weekend of picks and safety is somehow still a want. The Robinson value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere.
Bottom line, they will be counting on several picks to beat their grades.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 6 they get their quarterback of the future. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In the 20th pick they get a building block for the line at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Khyree Jackson at No. 120 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
They reached into another round for Frank Gore Jr., and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It fills a real need, too.
Jamari Thrash slid further than he should have, and the Round 5 slot is lovely value for the wide receiver. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Ty'Ron Hopper in pick No. 157. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Somehow Darius Robinson was still sitting there in the 161st overall pick, and they pounced on premier edge rusher value. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
BJ Mayes in Round 5, Pick 32 is fair value, right on his grade. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
They paid a round early for Christian Mahogany in the 179th pick, more than the board wanted. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Erick All at the 241st overall pick is money in the bank, a tight end taken below his worth. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.