The Minnesota Vikings have long been rumored as a team that could trade up to select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hinted at Minnesota’s potential plans in that regard during a press conference on Thursday.
Vikings GM Hints at Potential Trade-Up Talks for a Quarterback
Adofo-Mensah addressed a variety of questions from media members Thursday during a press conference focused largely on the team’s pre-draft plans.
Minnesota currently holds picks 11 and 23 overall in the draft after acquiring the latter selection from the Houston Texans back in March. It’s a deal that many interpreted as signaling that the Vikings were acquiring additional draft capital to bolster potential deals for moving up in the draft to select a quarterback.
Adofo-Mensah was asked specifically about how many quarterbacks in this draft he’s willing to stake his career and the franchise’s future on, and he gave a revealing non-answer.
#Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah declined to answer how many franchise quarterbacks they have on their board because it would make phone calls with other teams more difficult.
Minnesota has picks 11 and 23, and they are a trade-up team everyone is watching.pic.twitter.com/7gbAv6FP36
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 11, 2024
“I wish I could give you that answer, man. That’d make my phone calls a little tougher,” Adofo-Mensah said. “It’s just something that makes your phone calls a little bit harder, teams knowing how many exactly that I think. That would kind of change their approach to me.”
Trading up for a quarterback involves plenty of risk, particularly with the large amount of draft capital often given up to facilitate those kinds of moves.
The Kansas City Chiefs famously traded up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017, and the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills moved up for Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, respectively, in 2018, but there are plenty of other instances where teams ended up in a tough spot.
Mitchell Trubisky, Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen are among quarterbacks who have not panned out from trade-ups.
Adofo-Mensah discussed those inherent risks during the press conference, including the past track record of such trade-ups.
"Just because something is risky doesn't mean you're scared of it. It's uncertain and we've got to take our swing, but that doesn't give us any pause." – GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the uncertain nature of the NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/nlJhhCm68Z
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 11, 2024
“We look at those things, and we obviously honor them and respect them, but we also look at environment and are we setting the person up to succeed,” Adofo-Mensah said.
“When we talk about these players, it’s not just how good are they. It’s how do we get the best version of themselves if they come to the Minnesota Vikings, and we set up plans before they walk in the building? I think our odds will be better than the margins.
“How good are those odds? Obviously, it’s still a pretty risky thing, but just because something is risky doesn’t mean you’re scared of it. It’s uncertain, and we’ve got to take our swing, but that doesn’t give us any pause.”
Potential QB Targets for the Vikings
In the event the Vikings do move up, it seems unlikely that they would deal for the No. 1 pick, as the Bears have already traded away Justin Fields and seem all but set on taking Caleb Williams with their pick.
Beyond that, though, many selections could be up for grabs depending on the asking price and what Minnesota is willing to give up. The Washington Commanders and New England Patriots sit second and third, respectively, with clear needs at QB. Yet, the Vikings could attempt to swing a deal with one of those teams if there’s a quarterback they’re sold on.
Beyond the top three, the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers pick fourth and fifth, respectively. Both teams are currently set at quarterback between Kyler Murray (Cardinals) and Justin Herbert (Chargers), which could make them prime candidates to trade down.
MORE: Top QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Adofo-Mensah made it clear Thursday that Minnesota has multiple quarterbacks that it loves along with others it loves at certain slots.
“There are multiple [QBs] that we are in love with just on an outright basis,” Adofo-Mensah said. “But there are also other guys we’re in love with, given if we got them at a certain value.”
Drake Maye
Drake Maye has long been projected among the top two quarterbacks in the class and seems the likely No. 2 pick, though he could certainly slide below that if the Commanders or another team are more sold on one of the other prospects.
Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings is even higher on Maye in ranking him ahead of Williams as the draft’s top quarterback. Cummings had high praise for Maye in his scouting report of the QB:
“Drake Maye is my QB1 in the 2024 NFL Draft, and a top-three prospect along with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Caleb Williams. It’s close between him and Williams for QB1, but Maye arguably has the best balance of physical talent and operational utility.”
It also helps that the Vikings’ new quarterbacks coach, former NFL player Josh McCown, is very familiar with Maye after being on the coaching staff of his high school football team.
Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels is another player whom the Vikings could look to target with a trade-up after an impressive final season at LSU in which he won the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Daniels is generally ranked below the top tier of Williams and Maye, but Cummings and many other analysts still have plenty of praise for him.
“Daniels grades out as a top-15 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft and a legitimate franchise QB option in the class,” Cummings said in his scouting report of Daniels. “He’s my QB3 behind Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, and there’s a slight gap between them — but Daniels is still worth the investment as a franchise-leading force under center.”
J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy has also vaulted up draft boards throughout the cycle and could end up being a high selection as well — with the Vikings among the teams who have been linked to him.
McCarthy could make plenty of sense as a trade-up candidate for Minnesota if he’s still available after the top three.
KEEP READING: What Will Vikings Do If They Can’t Trade Up for QB?
“McCarthy grades out as a top-25 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft,” Cummings said in his scouting report of McCarthy. “He’s a contender for QB3 alongside LSU’s Jayden Daniels. Williams and Maye are separated as the top QB prospects, but McCarthy is in the next tier down, and with his profile and youth, he could command early first-round capital.”