2024 Vikings Mock Draft: A new era begins in Minnesota

Fourth-Round Pick No. 1 (111th overall)

D.J. James - CB (Auburn)

This is great value for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings, D.J. James has put on a show for the Auburn Tigers this year. James will provide great depth for Brian Flores' defense, and he has the talent to develop into a solid CB2.

James recognizes routes extremely well, and he has plenty of experience playing in both man and zone coverages. James has good size and won't get pushed around by bigger receivers when in press coverage, but he can be a very sloppy tackler, and if he wants to have a successful NFL career, he will need to clean that up.

The likes of Byron Murphy, Akayleb Evans, and Mekhi Blackmon will be standing in James's way of seeing the field, and all have performed quite well in 2023, so it's best to assume James would see the field mostly on special team to begin his career.

Fourth-Round Pick No. 2 (126th overall) via Detroit

Donovan Edwards - RB (Michigan)

Not one...not two...but three Wolverines in the first four rounds all headed to Minnesota as the Vikings take a page out of the Eagles' book with all the Georgia Bulldogs they have drafted the last two seasons. In this case, the Vikings add a dynamic, versatile running back in Donovan Edwards.

The Vikings have struggled to run the ball all season, and as of Week 8, they currently have one rushing touchdown on the season and sit 31st in rushing offense. Edwards does a good job of staying patient and finding holes in the run game, and he is an efficient blocker who picks up blitzes well.

Edwards is not going to win a track meet anytime soon, but when he has the ball in his hands, all he does is make plays. Living in the shadow of Blake Corum the past two seasons, his opportunities have come few and far between, and the difference between Edwards and most college backups is that he would be the starting running back on every other team in the country besides Michigan.