How might the 2024 NFL Draft look for the Minnesota Vikings if they decide to select a quarterback on Day 2 rather than in the first round?
There are almost too many scenarios to count as the Minnesota Vikings prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.
One option that has not received much attention lately is the chance to select a quarterback on Day 2 without having to spend much to trade up.
The 2024 quarterback class has plenty of depth, so there is a path out there where Minnesota can find a starting quarterback on Day 2.
Now, this scenario would take quite a bit of luck in hoping one of the top quarterbacks survives until the 43rd overall pick in the draft, but it is more likely than we may think.
Based on everything I have seen lately, the NFL seems to be much higher on J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix but lower on Michael Penix Jr. as we head toward the Senior Bowl practices.
While there is a very real possibility that all of them land in the first round, Penix does seem the most likely to make it out of the top 32 picks.
When building an NFL roster, there are three positions that a team must get production from, and they are quarterback, offensive tackle, and edge rusher.
With the Vikings waiting for a quarterback for this exercise and already having two very good tackles, that makes their first-round pick an easy choice.
First-Round Pick (11th overall)
Jared Verse - EDGE (Florida State)
I originally went into this mock with two options in mind.
The fun option would be to take the top cornerback on the board, build the defense from the back end, and let Danielle Hunter serve as the only real pass-rushing threat on the roster.
However, the cornerback depth in this class is much stronger than the edge rushers, in my opinion.
That means Jared Verse, the preseason favorite to be the first pass rusher off the board, is the pick for the Vikings.
Verse was a candidate to be a top-10 selection in 2023 but decided to return to Florida State for one final season before heading to the pros.
While Verse was still very good in 2023, he did not take the type of leap that many expected, and he is not the runaway choice for best pass rusher in this class at this point.
He finished the season with 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks, which gave him back-to-back seasons with 9.0 sacks and double-digit tackles for loss.
The FSU defense was impressive all season as they remained undefeated heading into bowl season and put the Seminoles back on the map in college football.
The Vikings desperately need to get after the quarterback and take some of the pressure off their young secondary.
A duo of Verse and Hunter would be enough to change the fortunes of the defense after a couple of agonizing seasons.