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The 2024 NFL Draft is April 25-27 in Detroit. Here is the first-round order, per Tankathon.
The Vikings are coming off a disappointing 7-10 finish following a promising 13-4 finish the previous year. With major holes at several key positions, including quarterback, edge-rusher and cornerback, acquiring an impact player with the No. 11 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft is paramount to a turnaround in 2024.
2023 record: 7-10 | First-round pick: No. 11 | Team needs: QB, Edge, Cornerback
Potential first-round picks: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington; Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU; Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Regardless of what happens with Kirk Cousins, the Vikings desperately need a quarterback for the future. While the likelihood of Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy falling to No. 11 lessens by the day, former Washington product Michael Penix Jr. could be an excellent backup plan.
Armed with a strong, accurate arm and undervalued athleticism, Penix Jr.’s talent is undeniable. However, he has a choppy injury history, having suffered two separate ACL tears and a broken shoulder over his collegiate career. Luckily, he received a clean bill of health at the combine, where his draft stock began to soar.
After the Vikings brass got a good look at him during the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, they also spoke with him extensively in Indianapolis. Penix raved about the meeting, saying he felt “very confident” afterward.
If a QB to their liking doesn’t fall to No. 11, the Vikings may choose to upgrade the team’s pass rush. Minnesota hasn’t selected an edge rusher in the first or second round since landing star Danielle Hunter in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft, so maybe it’s about time.
With Hunter and Marcus Davenport likely on the way out, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah may have his eye on an edge rusher like Verse in the first round. The former FSU standout finished third in the ACC in sacks (9) his senior season, earning the 19th-highest grade among edge rushers and a top-10 prospect nod from PFF.
Should a quarterback or edge rusher not be available, the Vikings might use the team’s first-rounder at another premium position. While plenty of CB depth is on the roster, Minnesota could still use help after ranking 24th against the pass in 2023.
If the Vikings go that route, Alabama’s Terrion Arnold would be an excellent choice out of a CB-rich draft. As Gordon McGuinness of PFF pointed out, Arnold allowed only a 51.9 percent completion percentage (79 targets) in coverage last season. With a mix of speed and physicality, the six-foot, 196-pounder would be an immediate starter in the Vikings secondary, with huge upside considering he’s only 20 years old.
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