In one of the first 2024 NFL mock drafts to be released this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings wind up selecting former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels in the first round.
After it was revealed on Sunday that the Minnesota Vikings will be picking 11th in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, speculation has already begun regarding who they will use the selection on.
Bleacher Report has released one of their first NFL mock drafts of the 2024 offseason, and for the Vikings, they have them using the No. 11 pick on former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Daniels is coming off of a magnificent year at LSU that resulted in him being named the 2023 season's winner of the illustrious Heisman Trophy.
Will the Minnesota Vikings have to trade up to select Jayden Daniels in 2024 NFL Draft?
After having Daniels land with Minnesota, Bleacher Report's scouting department shared the following explanation for their choice.
"The Minnesota Vikings are finally positioned to move beyond Kirk Cousins, who enters free agency after suffering a season-ending torn Achilles. Clearly, the likes of Josh Dobbs and Nick Mullens didn't prove themselves to be the answer behind center.
Daniels is an exciting option for Kevin O'Connell's scheme, with Justin Jefferson finally getting to play with a dynamic quarterback."
In 12 games at LSU during the 2023 season, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback prospect completed 72.2 percent of his passes and averaged 318 passing yards per contest while throwing 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
In addition to all of the plays Daniels made with his arm, he also rushed for 1,134 yards (8.4 yards per attempt) and another 10 touchdowns.
The former LSU signal-caller is viewed by many as one of the top three quarterback prospects who will be available in the 2024 draft. A group that also includes former USC signal-caller Caleb Williams and former North Carolina passer Drake Maye.
Daniels certainly has the numbers to be viewed as one of the top 2024 quarterback prospects, but could his draft stock soar even higher after this year's NFL Scouting Combine and his Pro Day?
Given how high the demand always is for young quarterbacks around the league each year, the Vikings might not be able to just sit and wait at pick No. 11 in the first round if they want to end up with Daniels.
If the former LSU passer is someone Minnesota believes has the potential to transform their franchise, then they will likely have to trade up in the first round of the 2024 draft to make sure that they can select him before anyone else.
Will Daniels be the quarterback the Vikings fall in love with during the next few months, or will another team snatch him out of their grasp before Minnesota gets an opportunity to make their first pick in this year's NFL Draft?