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The Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a new starting quarterback after Kirk Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.
And, as it turns out, they have one specific target in mind in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Both Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network and Pete Prisco of CBS report that the Vikings have honed in on Drake Maye as a draft target.
Daniel Jeremiah: “I think Minnesota will put forth a strong effort to try and get up to get Drake Maye.” pic.twitter.com/iu8ULIkWpE
— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) March 15, 2024
Vikings making moves to go up and get a QB. Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Word around the league is they like Maye.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 15, 2024
That news comes after the Vikings made a big-time trade to acquire a second first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft from the Houston Texans.
The move send the No. 23 overall pick the Vikings, as well as a seventh-round pick (No. 232 overall) to Minnesota. In return, the Texans received the Vikings’ second-round pick (No. 42), their sixth-round pick (No. 188) and their second-round pick in 2025.
Minnesota also retained its own first-round pick, which sits at No. 11.
Jeremiah then went on to state that “the STRONG expectation around the NFL right now- 4 of the first 6 picks will be QB’s.”
So, what does that mean for the Vikings.
Well, the expectation is now that they will attempt to package picks No. 11 and 23 in an attempt to move up into the top-five and draft a quarterback.
Ideally, Maye would be that quarterback.
But they may (no pun intended) not do so until draft day, when they can see what the New England Patriots do with the No. 2 overall pick.
The Chicago Bears (No. 1), Washington Commanders (No. 2) and New England Patriots (No. 3) are all in the market for a starting quarterbacks.
Chicago is widely expected to move on from Justin Fields. While Washington and New England each traded their young starting quarterbacks, Sam Howell and Mac Jones, within the last week.
The New York Giants, who currently hold pick No. 6, have been heavily linked with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
So if the Vikings want a quarterback, they will likely need to move ahead of the Giants to do so. Though it’s unlikely that New England or Washington will be willing to trade down. Which leaves Arizona (No. 4) and the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5) as potential trade partners.
What happens next, however, is anyone’s guess.