5 early contenders to be the Vikings first-round pick in 2024

Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels | Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports
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Vikings first-round pick contender No. 1

Jayden Daniels, QB - LSU

The Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a quarterback. While the team could bring back Kirk Cousins or look for a new free agent to fill the role, they might also use their first-round draft pick on a passer who will hopefully lead the team for many years.

Guys like Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are bound to be picked almost immediately. That means the Vikings will have to look to players like Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, or Michael Penix Jr. to be their selection this April.

It's hard to know where Daniels will be selected. He could go as early as third, but might also slide down to Minnesota at 11. In 12 games for LSU in 2023, he completed 72.3 percent of his passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and four interceptions while adding 135 rushes for 1,134 yards and ten scores.

Daniels could even be worth trading up for. The six-foot-three Heisman award winner is a player who could bring a lot of excitement to the Minnesota Vikings and hopefully lock down the position for many years to come.

Other QB options:
- Michael Penix Jr, Washington
- J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

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