Before anybody else traded up during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Vikings had already done so twice. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and company swung for the fences in what could be a franchise-defining draft, choosing quality over quantity and landing a pair of players who they believe will be cornerstones of their future.
In McCarthy, the Vikings are adding a quarterback who has won at every level. He went 63-3 as a starter across high school and college, highlighted by a national championship at Michigan last year. There's some projection required in McCarthy's evaluation because he played in a run-heavy Wolverines offense; he's a statistical outlier as a modern first-round pick who never threw for 3,000 yards in a college season.
The Vikings weren't done. They still had the 23rd overall pick that they acquired from the Texans last month, which many assumed was going to be used as ammunition to move up for a QB. And with the way the board played out on Thursday, the Vikings sensed another opportunity to strike. The first 14 picks in this draft were all offensive players, which pushed down some big-time defensive talent.
"We were able to add two cornerstone-type pieces to the franchise," Adofo-Mensah said."Add a quarterback who’s got a lot of potential of ability — he’s won at a high level in a lot of different places. An edge rusher who again impacts the game and is really just scratching the surface with his ability. We can’t believe we got them both in the same draft."
The Vikings might've made that initial trade for the 23rd pick thinking it would help them go up for a quarterback, which fell through due to the Patriots deciding to take Maye for themselves. Pivoting by moving up for a pass rusher they thought would go earlier is understandable, but it turned out to a be a lot to give up to get Turner. Of course, if he becomes a star in Minnesota's defense, it'll have been worth it.
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