ESPN REPORT: Ex-Michigan Superbowl Player Signs New Contract With Minnesota Vikings…
This year’s NFL Draft represents a huge test for both Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell as individuals and as a team. This is by far the biggest decision either one has had to this point in their tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, and the decisions made in this year’s draft are likely to impact the team for at least 4 seasons – and perhaps longer than that.
The Vikings need a quarterback, and this year’s draft features six excellent prospects. The Vikings have the No. 11 pick and that will allow them to get one of those quarterback. But they also have the No. 23 pick, and if they combine the two picks in a trade offer to the Arizona Cardinals (fourth pick overall) or the Los Angeles Chargers (fifth pick), they should be able to get the fourth-best quarterback in the draft.
However, if the want the second- or third-best quarterback, it will cost more than those two spots in the draft. They would have to throw in a second-round pick in 2025, or perhaps a first-rounder. That’s what it will likely take to made a deal with the Washington Commanders (No. 2) or the New England Patriots (No. 3).
Making such a deal could be justified in the media, but it would be the wrong decision. The Vikings need O’Connell to make a decision on the quarterback he wants to work with for at least four seasons and it will be up to Adofo-Mensah to figure out which player is best for the franchise. Hopefully, the two men will both be right and will also be in agreement on the player.
Caleb Williams of USC is the presumptive No. 1 pick to the division rival Chicago Bears. Even if the Bears were going to come off that pick and decide that Williams is not their guy and they ultimately decide to trade the pick, they are not going to trade him to their division rivals. No chance of the Vikings ending up with the No. 1 pick.
The second- and third-ranked quarterbacks in this draft are Jayden Daniels of LSU and Drake Maye of North Carolina.
Daniels won the Heisman Trophy last season and he has full command of the offense when he is on the field. He will anticipate where his receivers will be and deliver the ball with accuracy. He also has the speed to make game-changing plays in the running game. At 6-4 and 210 pounds, he sees the field well and almost always makes the correct decision with the ball.
