D
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings left with their quarterback, and a D to match.
by wbwychor ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 5 steals
· 1 reaches
The trade table was where it all came apart. The Vikings shipped out far more than they hauled back, and no amount of spin dresses up the bill. Too much went sideways, and the D is the honest tally.
Everything downstream of Drake Maye depends on Drake Maye, and the building knows it. If Glaze pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about.
The edge rusher hole is the one line item this class does not answer. The Fiske pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch.
Add it up and it is a weekend the front office will hope everyone forgets, edge rusher very much included.
Pick-by-Pick
A straight-up fair deal on Drake Maye at slot 2, value and slot in agreement. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Braden Fiske at the 108th pick is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A market-rate linebacker, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Cedric Gray. It adds depth where they could use a little.
A wild overpay on Delmar Glaze in pick No. 148, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Braelon Allen at pick 160. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A cornerback of that caliber at No. 166 is the definition of value, full stop. A minor itch, scratched.
Taking Chau Smith-Wade in the 179th overall pick is close to grand larceny; a cornerback that good had no business lasting this long. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
A tidy bit of business in Round 7, Pick 10, where Daequan Hardy graded well above the range. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
Demorie Tate in No. 253 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.