The Minnesota Vikings have lost long-time starting quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, but his departure also allows the team to reset in the 2024 NFL Draft. Which prospects could replace Cousins at the most important position?
Kirk Cousins Departs Minnesota, Signs 4-Year Deal With Atlanta Falcons
The 2024 free agency period was headlined by the availability of four-time Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins — who was playing some of the best football of his career with the Vikings in 2023 before an Achilles tear ended his season prematurely.
Early reports suggested that the Vikings were still in the running to retain Cousins, but ultimately, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons on a four-year deal. His agent, Mike McCartney, confirmed the news on social media.
For Cousins and the Falcons, the move is one that pairs the quarterback with up-and-coming head coach Raheem Morris and unites him with a Sean McVay disciple and Kevin O’Connell-adjacent offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson.
For the Vikings, however, Cousins’ departure leaves them without a QB. They needed to be mindful of the future beyond him at some point, but now, that timeline has greatly accelerated.
After going 7-10 in 2023, the Vikings sit at 11th overall in the Round 1 draft order. That’s not ideal real estate with such a large need at QB, but with some maneuvering, the Vikings may be able to find their next franchise QB.
Minnesota Vikings QB Options in the 2024 NFL Draft
For the Vikings, everything depends on how the board falls with the first three picks. The first two teams — the Chicago Bears and the Washington Commanders — are virtual locks to take a QB. The New England Patriots are third overall, and they are also close to a lock.
It’s widely expected that Caleb Williams will be the No. 1 overall pick for the Chicago Bears, but after that, the potential outcomes start to increase a bit more.
MORE: Best-Case Scenarios for Every Team in the 2024 NFL Draft
The Commanders’ choice at No. 2 overall will likely come down to either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels. New England’s pick at No. 3 overall could simply be whoever’s left over from that choice.
But as we’ve seen in the past, teams can fall in love — or out of love — with certain QB prospects. What if the Patriots only like one of Daniels or Maye? Could they trade down from No. 3? What if one of Daniels, Maye, or J.J. McCarthy falls to pick No. 5? Could Minnesota be aggressive in sniping a falling passer?
There’s a lot we still don’t know, but at the very least, we can go through the potential options for the Vikings and discuss the merits of each one.
Drake Maye, North Carolina
It’s simple. On the off chance Drake Maye lasts past the Commanders and the Patriots, the Vikings are completely justified in selling the farm to move up for him.
That could happen at No. 3 overall if the Patriots aren’t enamored with Maye and choose to trade back with Daniels gone. Or it could happen at No. 4 overall in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals if McCarthy ends up being a surprise top-three pick.
The bottom line is this: Maye should be at the top of the Vikings’ wish list by far. He’s my personal QB1a in the 2024 NFL Draft over Williams, and on tape, there’s a great deal to be excited by with Maye and his natural talent.
From a physical talent perspective, Maye bears similarity to rising Packers star Jordan Love with his prototypical frame, athleticism, arm strength, and all-encompassing angle freedom off multiple platforms. But as a prospect, Maye is more refined than Love was coming out, and his high-level flashes of anticipation and DB manipulation bode well for his growth.
With the support system Minnesota has in place, Maye would be able to produce fairly early in his NFL career. And with his combined physical talent, pocket navigation ability, leverage IQ, and multi-level prowess as a passer, he could be an impact NFL starter sooner rather than later.
It would be expensive to beat out other suitors for Maye if he’s available at either No. 3 or No. 4 overall. But for the Vikings, that cost could very well be worth it. The Vikings have the least control over this option, but it’s easily the most desirable.
Jayden Daniels, LSU
Now, let’s envision a scenario where Williams, Maye, and McCarthy go with the top-three picks. In such a scenario, Jayden Daniels would be available via trade-up.
Daniels wouldn’t be a perfect fit for the Vikings’ system. Of the group of listed QBs, he has one of the weaker arms, and he’s not overly consistent as an anticipator over the middle of the field. But if you’re banking on pure talent, creative upside, and deep passing ability, Daniels presents plenty of appeal.
As a runner, Daniels is certifiably electric, and he’d add another dimension to Minnesota’s offense off that alone. But he’s also a capable rhythm passer who has rare touch and timing in the deep third.
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Anything is possible in the NFL Draft. But as it stands, most outcomes have some combination of Williams, Maye, and Daniels being the first three picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. Thus, J.J. McCarthy is the most likely QB addition for the Vikings.
Minnesota would still likely have to trade up to acquire McCarthy. And it’s a trepidatious venture. Off of raw grades, McCarthy isn’t quite the kind of QB prospect to warrant such a move.
Operationally, McCarthy can still be inconsistent with his field vision, and there’s a question about whether he’ll be able to elevate his offense at the NFL level. But lost behind those questions is a physical profile that boasts immense upside and a still 21-year-old passer brimming with potential.
At his young age, McCarthy has already shown bright flashes of pocket navigation, anticipation, and fearlessness throwing over the middle, and he’s a stellar athlete with a loose, elastic arm to boot. In Minnesota’s offense, he’d be poised for success if given time to develop.
Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Michael Penix Jr. isn’t often looped in with the top-four passers in the 2024 NFL Draft. But quietly, he’s an enticing option in the mid-to-late first-round range, especially for the Vikings, for whom he could be an exceptional scheme fit.
If the Vikings are in a scenario where Penix is their top option, it’s likely that the board didn’t fall their way, and they either stayed put at No. 11 overall or engineered a slight trade back. But in that scenario, Penix brings plenty to like.
Now that Penix has cleared his medical check, there’s little barring him from earning early-round consideration. And for the Vikings — a team with a talented cast of vertical and intermediate threats headlined by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison — Penix’s ability to carve through coverages with his field vision and drive velocity would be invaluable.
Bo Nix, Oregon
If the Vikings are forced to draft Bo Nix, it’s likely that the board played out in a near-worst-case scenario. In this scenario, three QBs go top-three, another QB-needy team — perhaps the Giants, Raiders, or Broncos — gets McCarthy, and Penix is scooped up as well.
Ideally, the Vikings trade back in this case, acquire more capital, and pick Nix later in Round 1 or at the start of Round 2. Now, a worst-case scenario isn’t meant to paint Nix in a bad light. He’s a solid QB prospect who could succeed in the right environment.
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For Nix, the question marks come from his lack of elite arm strength and his, at times, inconsistent operation on multi-read throws. But Nix is a stellar creator and off-platform presence with great accuracy, pre-snap intelligence, and distribution ability, and he could be a gem in the 2024 class if properly supported.
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