The East-West Shrine Bowl is the first collegiate all-star game to kick off the 2024 NFL Draft season. Who are some prospects the Minnesota Vikings should watch closely?
It's a big week for the Minnesota Vikings and the rest of the league as preparations for the 2024 NFL Draft really begin to ramp up, with both the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl commencing this week.
The majority of the top prospects available for the 2024 draft will be in attendance going through drills, meeting coaches, getting poked and prodded, and ultimately competing in the games.
This is a great opportunity for prospects to separate themselves from the pack amongst the rest of their positional grouping.
It's also a great chance for some lesser-known prospects from some smaller schools to create some buzz around their name if they can show they can compete with the boys from some bigger programs.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is the first game, and it is being held on Thursday evening. While it may not have the number of first-round caliber prospects that the Senior Bowl has, it has produced plenty of quality prospects who have made an impact in the NFL.
Here's a list of three offensive and three defensive prospects the Vikings should keep close tabs on at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Offensive Prospect No. 1
Jordan Travis - QB (FSU)
The most intriguing prospect at the East-West Shrine Bowl isn't even playing.
Jordan Travis was having a fantastic season for the Seminoles before basically injuring his leg in a freak injury. He's an exciting quarterback prospect to watch as he can make plays not just with his arm but is also very dangerous with his legs.
One of the things teams have to love about Travis is his ability to make smart decisions with the football. His touchdown to interception ratio was extremely impressive, as he threw only two a season ago, and just 20 in his entire six-year college career.
Travis has plenty of arm strength and can sling the ball accurately down the field. He stands tall in the pocket, always looking for an open man before taking off with his feet. He's great at improvising and can make things happen when the play breaks down.
The Vikings need to take a close look at Travis and see where he's at in his rehab. They need their medical staff to evaluate where he's at in his recovery and also what any long-term effects could be.
Nothing hurts a player's draft stock more than an injury and Travis could find himself on the board much later than he should be.
Minnesota could have themselves a steal if they do their due diligence and snipe this talented dual-threat quarterback in the mid-rounds.