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.
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.