Vikings Could Make Move in NFL Draft to Target QB, per Report

The Minnesota Vikings could be among the teams interested in selecting a quarterback during the first round of April’s NFL draft, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

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Kirk Cousins’s contract is due to expire in March, and the 35-year-old is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. Fowler reports there’s some belief around the league that the Vikings, who currently hold the No. 11 pick, could look to move up into the top three in the draft and take a quarterback amid the uncertainty surrounding Cousins’s future with the franchise. “People around the league are keeping an eye on the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11, too. They did a lot of quarterback homework last offseason and could eventually target one high in the draft with free agent Kirk Cousins’ future in Minnesota uncertain,” wrote Fowler on Sunday.

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In late January, Cousins told Sky Sports that he was eager to get contract talks started with Minnesota, but doesn’t expect negotiations to begin until March, closer to when his current deal expires. Cousins has spent the last six years with the Vikings and was enjoying a strong seasons in 2023 prior to suffering the Achilles injury, having thrown 18 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games.

Giants Interview Vikings DBs Coach Daronte Jones For DC

A new name has emerged in defensive coordinator interviews. Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones has earned his first opportunity to interview for an NFL defensive coordinator position, meeting with the Giants last week, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The two parties conducted the interview in Mobile, AL, where Jones worked as the National team’s defensive coordinator.

Though Jones has been coaching in some capacity since 2001, he’s a relatively new name to the NFL. After time coaching at several high school and college institutions, as well as a one-year stay in the CFL, Jones earned his first NFL job as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Dolphins in 2016. He became the Bengals cornerbacks coach two years later.

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Following his two years in Cincinnati, Jones started his first stint in Minnesota as a defensive backs coach. He only spent one year in that role before departing for the defensive coordinator job at LSU. He had been a defensive coordinator for Franklin HS and Bowie State, but this was his first D1 coordinator gig.

After not being retained following his lone season as the Tigers defensive coordinator, Jones returned to his previous role with the Vikings. This most recent year, he was promoted to defensive pass game coordinator. Minnesota would finish 24th in passing yards allowed.

Here is a list of Jones’ reported competition to replace Don “Wink” Martindale as defensive play-caller in New York:

Derrick Ansley, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interview requested
Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Interview requested; promoted to Bills DC
Shane Bowen, defensive coordinator (Titans): Interviewed
Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interview requested
Brendan Daly, linebackers coach (Chiefs): Interviewed
Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview blocked
Daronte Jones, defensive pass game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed
Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Ravens): To conduct second interview; hired as Titans DC