2024 NFL Draft: Vikings land franchise-altering QB in way-too-early mock draft

First-Round Pick (12th overall via trade)

Quinn Ewers - QB (Texas)

You are probably seeing this selection and thinking to yourself, "there's no way the Vikings are going to be picking 12th overall," and I agree with you. But Minnesota has made it clear they are looking for their quarterback of the future, and to do that in the 2024 draft, they will almost certainly need to trade up for one.

That quarterback may just be current Texas passer Quinn Ewers, who just recently beat out mega prospect Arch Manning for the school's starting job under center. Ewers, in his own right, was a near-perfect prospect, considered by many to be a once-in-a-lifetime type of prospect.

Ewers can make every throw on the field, and his deep ball is very Russel Wilson-esque. The Texas Longhorn will need to work on his accuracy, especially on the run, if he wants to battle the likes of Caleb Williams and Drake Maye to be the No. 1 overall selection in next year's draft.

As long as Ewers stays healthy next season, there's no reason he can't be a top-15 pick in 2024 though, and there are some who believe he could even be a top-five pick come next April.

The potential of having Ewers lead an offense with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson is almost too enticing to pass on.