B-
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings answered their biggest question with McCarthy. Grade: B-.
by kgrundseth ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 2 steals
· 2 reaches
The search is over. The Vikings handed the keys to J.J. McCarthy, and the whole operation now runs on his development. Call it a sensible B-, earned the boring way.
They banked enough surplus on Jones to cover a lot of smaller sins. The safety spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. They will need McCarthy to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it.
Quarterback is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.
Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 11 they get a long-term answer under center, though the board says they badly overpaid. The biggest hole, addressed.
Darius Robinson at pick No. 42 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
You do not let a running back like Bucky Irving reach the 109th overall pick and blink. They did not. The roster fit checks out.
Fair-plus on Josh Newton, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Javion Cohen at Round 5, Pick 20 is a conviction pick that outran the value. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A reasonable price with a little left over, AJ Barner in the 166th pick. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Jarrian Jones in the Round 6 slot should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
By-the-book stuff, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint at No. 190 squarely in line with his ranking. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.