There are a lot of interesting options for the Minnesota Vikings when the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night. There has been a crazy amount of speculation for the Vikings in terms of trading up in the first round for a quarterback but they have to find a trade partner to do so.
Now, the Vikings have three potential trade partners: the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers. One of them could very well agree to a trade with the Vikings which would give them the quarterback of the future.
Insider mock draft has Vikings trading with Patriots
The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling released a seven round mock draft for the Vikings and he has the Vikings trading up for North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.
Acquired with No. 193 from New England in exchange for Nos. 11 and 23, a 2025 first-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick.
One of the biggest trades in Vikings history lands the quarterback the Vikings hope will lead them to the promised land. They’ve been impressed with Maye since last year, and they’ll develop him with Josh McCown — one of Maye’s former high school coaches — leading the quarterback room. Maye dealt with bouts of inaccuracy in his final year at UNC, but his 2022 season showed him at his best: confident, mobile and a powerful enough arm to throw downfield and hit shots over the middle. The Vikings would prefer to begin the year with the 21-year-old Maye backing up Sam Darnold, but if he can flourish in a Kevin O’Connell-led development process, he could be the coach’s answer to Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles.
Why is it important that Goessling has the Vikings trading up for Maye? Historically, he is right a lot with the Vikings. He got both Garrett Bradbury and Irv Smith Jr. in 2019, Jeff Gladney in 2020 and Christian Darrisaw in 2021 among others as well. Very few people are as plugged in with the Vikings than Goessling.
He also picked the rest of the draft and gave the Vikings some interesting players.
108. Oregon CB Khyree Jackson
129. Louisville CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
138. UCLA EDGE Gabriel Murphy
167. Colorado State TE Dallin Holker
177. Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo
193. Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd
232. Texas S Ryan Watts