3 best moves the Vikings made in the 2024 NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings had an eventful weekend at the 2024 NFL Draft, and several questions were answered. 

The Vikings found their quarterback of the future, and they got a defensive weapon later in the first round. They made a couple of debatable trades and a few long-term prospects that could wind up being gems in the same way that Ivan Pace Jr. made a splash one year ago.

But while we won’t know how a draft class will turn out for a few years, the hours after the draft are filled with discussion. While there may be some moves Minnesota might regret, what are a few moves that they’ll be happy with now that the draft has come to a close?

Best moves the Minnesota Vikings made in the 2024 NFL Draft

1. Not making an all-in trade for a quarterback

Everyone knew the Vikings were looking for a quarterback in this year’s draft and fans were bracing for impact regarding the cost to get one. With multiple first-rounders on the table, trading up for a top-tier quarterback would have been hard to stomach, but Minnesota did a good job of sticking to their “walkaway price” and waiting it out.

The first two picks were seemingly locked in as Caleb Williams went to the Chicago Bears and Jayden Daniels went to the Washington Commanders. But although the Vikings reportedly offered three first-round picks and upped their offer to try and get the third overall pick from the New England Patriots to select Drake Maye, it may have worked out in their favor.

Minnesota waited as the Arizona Cardinals (Marvin Harrison Jr.), Los Angeles Chargers (Joe Alt), New York Giants (Malik Nabers), and Tennessee Titans (JC Latham) didn’t select quarterbacks. The Atlanta Falcons shockingly took Michael Penix Jr. off the board, but the Bears took Rome Odunze and allowed the Vikings to trade up with the New York Jets to take J.J. McCarthy for the 10th overall pick.

The trade cost Minnesota a fourth and a fifth-round pick later in the draft, but it was a small price compared to what they could have given up – especially if they had traded up with the Cardinals or Chargers.

2. Trading up for Dallas Turner

While the Vikings didn’t make a blockbuster trade for a quarterback, the retained capital helped them benefit from a run on quarterbacks and offensive players at the top of the draft.

Offensive players – including six quarterbacks – were taken with the first 14 selections before the Indianapolis Cols selected UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu 15th overall. While Byron Murphy II went to the Seattle Seahawks with the following pick, the Vikings gave a 2024 fifth-round pick and third and fourth-round picks in 2025 to the Jacksonville Jaguars to take Dallas Turner with the 17th overall pick.

The trade was controversial as ESPN’s Seth Walder noted it was the ninth-most expensive trade for a first-round pick since 2004 and Mel Kiper Jr. cited it as a reason why he gave Minnesota a C-plus in his draft grades. But Matt Miller loved the trade and Kevin O’Connell became a meme with his reaction to the Vikings moving up.

While the trade will be debate, the process to acquire a top-five player is a good one and could give Brian Flores another piece to help Minnesota’s defense take another step forward this fall.

3. Investing in the offensive line late

The Vikings weren’t able to do much – and used one of their selections on a kicker – on the final day of the draft. But they were smart to address the offensive line which has had depth issues for the past several seasons.

Minnesota started by selecting Oklahoma offensive tackle Walter Rouse, who didn’t allow a sack on 481 pass-blocking snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus. 

The Vikings added another depth piece in the seventh round by selecting Wake Forest’s Michael Jurgens. Jurgens was Pro Football Focus’s fourth-graded guard last season and had the top run-blocking grade among qualifiers at 86.3, but the Vikings announced him as a center on Saturday.

No matter where Jurgens and Rouse play, they both are quality insurance in case of injury and have the potential to take over as starters in the event the Vikings decide to move on from a current starter in the near future.

With limited capital, investing in the offensive line was a good choice and could be dividends next season.

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