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

Second-Round Pick (54th overall)

Zion Tupuola-Fetui - Edge (Washington)

There is a chance that the Vikings are without Danielle Hunter, recently acquired free-agent edge rusher Marcus Davenport, and D.J. Wonnum when the 2024 season rolls around. This would be a nightmare scenario for the Minnesota front office.

With the limited draft capital that the Vikings had this year, the front office decided not to draft a pass rusher. Instead, they went and gave the ultra-raw UDFA edge rusher Andre Carter one of the biggest contracts for an undrafted free agent in 2023, but you get the feeling they need more.

Zion Tupuola-Fetui from Washington would be a great pick in this position for the Vikings and could see significant playing time in 2024. Tupuola-Fetui had a very impressive 2020 season with seven sacks and three forced fumbles, but his 2021 season would be riddled with injuries causing him to miss seven games.

Although Tupuola-Fetui played in all 13 games for Washington, you got the feeling that he wasn't fully 100 percent in 2022. He finished with 4.5 sacks and 28 total tackles in more of a rotational pass-rusher role for the school last season.

The expectation is that Tupuola-Fetui will be the every down edge rusher for Washington for the entire 203 season, as long as he stays healthy. There is a chance, if he regains his form from 2020, that we could be talking about Tupuola-Fetui being a first-round pick in 2024.

Tupuola-Fetui brings a laundry list of pass-rushing moves, and he has an excellent motor. The 6-foot-4 Washington Huskie has good bend for his size. He can also can drop into coverage if needed, but he needs more work in that area.

Tupuola-Fetui would be a fun project for new Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores to work with.