B-
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings let Smith-Wade fall into their laps, and walked away with a B-.
by Campbell78th ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 4 steals
· 1 reaches
You could see the war room lean forward. Chau Smith-Wade at the 190th overall pick is the sort of fall that does not happen, except it just did.
That edge rusher hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. The cost of the McCaffrey reach is exactly the players who went right after him.
Quarterback is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it. The weekend tilted hard toward the defense.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 11 they get a run-stuffing presence up front. A clean fit for the roster.
By-the-book stuff, J.J. McCarthy at slot 42 squarely in line with his ranking. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Mason McCormick at pick 109. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They paid up for Luke McCaffrey at the Round 4 slot when waiting would have done the job. The roster fit checks out.
Value with a capital V on Cam Hart in the 156th pick, a genuine coup. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Ty'Ron Hopper slipping to No. 166 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A minor itch, scratched.
A straight-up fair deal on Frank Gore Jr. at the 179th overall pick, value and slot in agreement. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Chau Smith-Wade at pick No. 190 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.