Redrafting the Minnesota Vikings 2024 rookie class

The Minnesota Vikings are almost a month removed from drafting their 2024 rookie class. We won't know for a few years if the choices they made were the right ones or not. Time will tell on that. What we do know is that things could've gone differently.

Alternate results could've been had if the Vikings decided not to be aggressive in trading up twice in the first round. They also could've opted to take different players at other spots resulting in a vastly different-looking draft class.

This is by no means a reflection on the Vikings' real draft. They landed some very talented players and made the team better. This is just a look at how things could've gone if the draft had gone a slightly different way.

To keep things fresh, we will stick with the Vikings' original selection spots and only take players who were on the board at the time.

Redrafting the Minnesota Vikings 2024 rookie class

First-Round Pick No. 1 (11th Overall)

Bo Nix - QB (Oregon)

In this scenario, the Vikings stick and pick at 11 and, in doing so, miss out on J.J. McCarthy, who still ends up going 10th overall. News came out that the Vikings were comfortable with six quarterbacks in this class, and while taking Dallas Turner here would've been tempting, the team knew that Nix wouldn't make it to pick No. 23.

Nix doesn't have the talent of Caleb Williams or Drake Maye or the upside or arm strength of McCarthy, but he's a smart and experienced quarterback who can make all the NFL throws.

He's played in various systems and been asked to do different things in those schemes, and he's made them work. While he is the least sexy of the options, he also has a very strong chance of being a quality starter in the league for a very long time.

First-Round Pick No. 2 (23rd Overall)

Terrion Arnold - CB (Alabama)

The Vikings were hoping to get an edge rusher here, but after Laiatu Latu came off the board at pick No. 15, the run happened and the board was wiped clean. So instead they "settle" for one of the top cornerbacks in the draft in Terrion Arnold.

Arnold is a former safety, so naturally, laying big hits is part of his game. He's a fluid, high-end athlete who sticks stride for stride with his receiver. Arnold has a high football IQ and also knows when to properly time his jumps when going up for a ball.

He would've pushed for a starting job in Minnesota and could've been a huge addition to the back end of this secondary.

Landing a defensive lineman was a bigger need, but the board would've fallen nicely here for the Vikings and Arnold will end up being a steal at this point if he lives up to his expectations.

Fourth-Round Pick No. 1 (109th Overall)

Brandon Dorlus - DL (Oregon)

The Vikings weren't able to get a defensive lineman early in this redraft but find a versatile one here in the fourth round. Brandon Dorlus can play inside at tackle, play the five-technique at defensive end in a three-man front, and even stand up and rush the quarterback as an edge linebacker. He seems like a perfect fit in Brian Flores's defense.

The Vikings didn't address this position in their real 2024 draft until their very last choice, when they took Levi Drake Rodriguez. That was a bit shocking since it was one of their bigger needs heading into the draft.

The addition of Dorlus here in the fourth round gives them a player who is closer to contributing in year one. His role would be unclear at this point, but his versatility would allow him to be on the field in various packages and situations.

Fourth-Round Pick No. 2 (129th Overall)

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger - G/C (Georgia)

The Vikings had a huge need on the interior of the offensive line going into the 2024 NFL Draft and chose to take a tackle first and then address that need on the interior, with one of their last picks. Here they tackle that need much earlier with the addition of this nasty blocker from Georgia.

Van Pran-Granger is a big, physical lineman who destroys his man. He would've added some physicality and nastiness to the Vikings' offensive line. He also would've provided competition for Blake Brandel at left guard and improved the team's depth at center, since he played both of those positions in college.

The fact he's a battle-tested member of the SEC doesn't hurt either. Van Pran-Granger fell further than most expected in the real draft, but the Vikings added him here and improved the depth and competition on the interior of their offensive line.

Fifth-Round Pick No. 1 (157th Overall)

Mohamed Kamara - EDGE (Colorado State)

The Vikings would've loved to get an edge earlier in this redraft, but wait it out and get a stud here in the fifth round. Mohamad Kamara was an absolute stud during his tenure at Colorado State.

He's explosive off the ball with violent mitts and a wide arsenal of pass-rushing moves. He was the player opposing offenses had to scheme to take out, and those are the kinds of players you want on your football team.

Kamara fell in the draft because he's undersized. The fact is, he's been undersized his entire life and has overcome it with technique, power, and speed and shouldn't have been punished for it.

He has the ability to develop into a very good NFL pass rusher and would've surely worked his way on the Vikings pass rushing rotation with Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel.

Fifth-Round Pick No. 2 (167th Overall)

Malik Washington - WR (Virginia)

Wide receiver was a secondary need for the Vikings as they approached the 2024 NFL Draft. They are set at the top with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but below them on the depth chart are where the question marks come up.

They brought back Brandon Powell and signed Trent Sherfield but lost K.J. Osborn in free agency. Behind those guys are nothing but question marks, so it was assumed that one of the Vikings' nine choices would be spent on a pass catcher.

That didn't happen in the real draft, but here, the Vikings aren't able to pass up Malik Washington. He's a little on the shorter side, but the dude is jacked up and is so dangerous with the ball in his hands.

He's excellent after the catch and will be a YAC demon in the NFL. His initial burst is explosive and if corners don't immediately get hands on him, he'll be streaking wide open down the field.

Washington would come in and immediately compete with Brandon Powell to be wide receiver number three. He could've ended up winning that job and become a menace out of the slot for the Vikings for many seasons to come.

Sixth-Round Pick (177th Overall)

Mekhi Wingo - DT (LSU)

The Vikings didn't draft a defensive tackle until late in the 2024 NFL Draft, but here they double dip. Wingo is a little undersized, and that may be why he fell further than projected, but he's a talented player who should find his way on an NFL roster in year one.

He's extremely strong and can fight off blocks. Wingo is quick off the ball and that can give him an advantage over bigger guards who stand in his way.

Flores would've had fun with this guy lining him up inside times, and other times putting him outside. He would've immediately been in the mix for a job on the Vikings defensive line.

That isn't a ringing endorsement of Wingo as much as it is a statement of the mundane talent that comprises the Vikings' defensive front. That being said, Wingo could've provided huge value for a sixth-round choice and would've addressed a major need on this Vikings' team.

Seventh-Round Pick No. 1 (231st Overall)

Myles Cole - EDGE (Texas Tech)

Myles Cole is a ginormous player. He pushes 6-foot-7 and weighs 278 pounds. The dude is pretty raw from a technique perspective despite playing college football for six seasons.

What is most impressive about this guy is his wing span. He's got long, gangly arms and can ward off blocks, wrap up ball carriers, and knock down passes basically at the same time.

A lot of sites listed him as an edge, but he could end up being a very good five-technique defensive end in the NFL. For being so big, Cole is very athletic and had an excellent showing at the Combine.

He's another guy who screams potential, and when you think about his freakish size and athletic ability, paired with the defensive mind that is Brian Flores, it's hard not to get excited about what he could develop into in the NFL. That's why the Vikings snapped him up here in the seventh round.

Seventh-Round Pick No. 2 (232nd Overall)

Kalen King - CB (Penn State)

The Vikings took a corner in the first round in this redraft, and go back to that position to finish off this alternate reality draft. Kalen King is an interesting prospect.

He had an excellent 2022 season, holding his own against the best receivers in college football. But 2023 didn't go as well, and he became grabby and was beaten when he wasn't getting flagged for interference.

He followed up a poor season with a poor showing at the Senior Bowl. He had a chance to redeem himself at the Combine but had another shoddy performance.

That leads one to believe it could just be a confidence issue with King. He's shown he has the ability to be a shutdown cornerback and at 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds has enough size.

This is a guy who needs to be brought along slowly and needs a ton of attention from the coaches and as many reps as possible. He's a project, but one who can be reacclimated and end up having a lengthy and productive NFL career.

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