3 biggest Vikings 2024 NFL Draft mistakes

The Minnesota Vikings have tied themselves to a rookie quarterback with the hope that he will lead the team out of mediocrity and into championship contention. The Vikings could have run it back with Kirk Cousins if they had wanted to and offered the veteran quarterback a king’s ransom the way the Atlanta Falcons did, but that idea was no longer appropriate in the minds of Minnesota’s key decision makers.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell came to the conclusion that the team would be better off going in a new direction. If the decision was correct and J.J. McCarthy turns out to be the right man, the Vikings could find themselves a legitimate Super Bowl contender in two seasons.

If that sounds a bit extreme, check the record. Elite quarterbacks often take their team to the heights sooner rather than later. Dan Marino led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in his second season. Tom Brady earned a Super Bowl victory with the Patriots in his second season. Patrick Mahomes won the Super Bowl with the Chiefs in his third season and just his second as a starter. Joe Burrow led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in his second year.

The Vikings drafted McCarthy because they expect him to bring results. While he does have a track record of winning championships as a college football quarterback, he may not be ready to deliver in the NFL and his selection could prove to be a mistake.

Vikings gamble with selection of McCarthy

The Vikings saw McCarthy lead Michigan to the College Football Playoff two years in a row, and the Wolverines are coming off a triumph over Washington in last season’s national title game.

McCarthy appears to have that championship makeup that Cousins did not have. The former Vikings quarterback had impressive stats, but he did not win key games against elite opponents. Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell believe McCarthy can do just that.

If he can, the selection was a brilliant one. But if he can’t, both men deserve to be questioned. While McCarthy is a great athlete who has demonstrated accuracy and enough arm strength to throw the ball outside the numbers, he does not have experience in a sophisticated passing offense.

He may have issues trying to grasp all the nuances. If he does, the selection of McCarthy could prove detrimental.

Vikings really wanted Drake Maye, but couldn’t pull off the deal

In the days leading up to the draft, the Vikings were among the teams that were interested in trading with the New England Patriots for the No. 3 pick.

If the Vikings had been successful in their efforts, they would have had the opportunity to select Drake Maye of North Carolina. He had all the elements the Vikings were looking for in a quarterback, and they were also more familiar with him than any of the other elite quarterbacks in the draft.

Minnesota quarterbacks coach Josh McCown had worked with Maye during his high school days, and it was clear that he is a signal caller with all the tools needed. In addition to his accuracy and arm strength, Maye also has prototypical size and athletic ability.

While former New England head coach Bill Belichick criticized Maye’s footwork, he was the quarterback the Vikings wanted. However, they were unable to engage the Patriots in a deal to rise to the No. 3 spot in the draft.

If they had, it most likely would have cost them first-rounders in future drafts as well as the two the Vikings had in the 2024 draft. So, it’s difficult to say if the team failed or not. But the Vikings did not secure the quarterback they wanted most in the draft.

Vikings fans who bet on the team throughout the Upper Midwest through the resources of Iowabetting.com or FanDuel may not be happy that the team settled on McCarthy and did not get Maye in the 2024 draft.

Vikings fail to acquire picks in second and third round

The Vikings did not have to give up their second first-round pick in order to secure the drafting of McCarthy. They held on to that pick and later moved from the 23rd spot to No. 17 in order to draft pass rusher Dallas Turner of Alabama.

The move was widely lauded because Turner appeared to be the best pure pass rusher in the draft. However, the Vikings are a team with multiple needs — particularly on defense — and they could have traded down to acquire picks in the second or third round. They did not do that.

After the selection of Turner, the Vikings did not have another pick until the fourth round. A player selected on Day 3 of the draft may make the team in training camp, but he may not. Second- and third-rounders usually make a roster and contribute as rookies.

If the Vikings don’t have enough depth in 2024, failing to acquire more picks by trading their second first-round pick could be a key reason and a mistake the team regrets.