As we shared on Monday, we have now reached the part of the NFL offseason where many of the latest 2024 mock drafts are just people essentially coming up with the most random predictions to stand out from the crowd. This seems to be the case for a recent mock draft from NFL Media's Peter Schrager, especially when it comes to what he believes the Minnesota Vikings will do.
Currently, the Vikings have two selections in the first round of this year's NFL Draft. The assumption by the majority is that Minnesota will use their two opening-round picks in a trade to move up in the first round to select one of the top 2024 quarterback prospects.
In Schrager's recent mock draft, however, he not only has the Vikings holding onto both of their picks in the opening round of this year's NFL Draft, but he also doesn't have Minnesota selecting a quarterback until they're on the clock to make their second pick in the first round.
Minnesota Vikings fail to get aggressive in recent 2024 mock draft
Earlier this month, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the following about the potential risks that come with the team possibly trading up in this year's draft to get a quarterback.
"Just because something is risky doesn't mean you have to stay away from it."
With this in mind, one would assume that Adofo-Mensah and Minnesota are likely going to do almost anything they can to trade up in the first round of the 2024 draft to land one of the top passing prospects.
Apparently, at least according to his recent mock draft, Schrager thinks differently.
In the mock draft that the NFL analyst shared on Tuesday, he has the Vikings staying put in the first round, and with the No. 11 pick, he predicts that they will use the selection on Terrion Arnold, a 6-foot, 189-pound cornerback out of the University out of Alabama.
Then, with the No. 23 pick in the opening round of this year's draft, Schrager has Minnesota using the selection on former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.
So, the Vikings do end up landing a new signal-caller in the first round, but it's not one who is at the top of many fans' wish lists. In fact, Minnesota staying put and using the No. 23 pick on Nix just feels like the latest example of the franchise settling for whatever quarterback is left on the draft board (see Christian Ponder).
As for Arnold, the Vikings could definitely use more help at cornerback heading into the 2024 season. But the need to improve the position group isn't as great as it is at quarterback, so the reaction to the selection would still involve a ton of questions.