During this NFL offseason’s free agency frenzy, Kirk Cousins bid farewell to the Minnesota Vikings, joining the Atlanta Falcons and embarking on a new chapter in the NFC South.
In response, the Vikings swiftly secured Sam Darnold, the once highly-touted third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, as a strategic backup plan. With the countdown to this year’s draft now at 16 days, Vikings supporters eagerly await the revelation of their new quarterback.
Here’s a breakdown of the approximate odds for the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft class landing in Minnesota:
- J.J. McCarthy: +115
- Drake Maye: +350
- Michael Penix Jr.: +470
- Jayden Daniels: +800
- Bo Nix: +850
- Caleb Williams: +5000
And the odds seem to align with fans’ expectations.
On March 15th, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah orchestrated a pre-draft trade, acquiring an additional 1st-round pick from the Houston Texans. In exchange, Minnesota relinquished two 2nd-round picks and engaged in a late-round pick swap.
This move positioned the Vikings with the 11th and 23rd picks in the draft, giving them substantial 1st-round capital rivaled only by the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals. Armed with this draft capital, Adofo-Mensah appears primed to maneuver up the draft board, likely on draft night, to secure Cousins’ successor.
Among Vikings enthusiasts, the choice has essentially boiled down to Drake Maye from North Carolina or J.J. McCarthy from Michigan.
Speculation suggests the Vikings could trade up with teams such as the Washington Commanders (Pick No. 2), the New England Patriots (Pick No. 3), the Arizona Cardinals (Pick No. 4), or the Los Angeles Chargers (Pick No. 5), with Maye or McCarthy as the targeted candidates post-trade.
Meanwhile, Penix Jr. remains a contender, offering a potential compromise solution that might not require a draft night trade. Opting for Penix Jr. could allow the Vikings to utilize their extra 1st-round pick on a defensive player like Texas’ defensive tackle Byron Murphy II or Toledo’s cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, both viable options at picks No. 11 or 23.
As for Daniels, he’s favored to be selected by the Commanders, particularly due to Kliff Kingsbury’s presence as the new offensive coordinator in Washington, known for his affinity for mobile quarterbacks. While there’s a chance Daniels could experience a draft slide, as of early April, such a scenario seems remote.
Nix, on the other hand, isn’t highly sought after by many Vikings fans, perceived as lacking the versatile skill set possessed by Maye or McCarthy, for instance.
Lastly, Williams appears destined for the Bears unless an unforeseen twist unfolds on draft night.
Overall, if you’re a Minnesota Vikings fan banking on “Maye or McCarthy” as the answer to life after Cousins, it seems the sportsbooks are in agreement.
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