The Minnesota Vikings are uniquely poised ahead of the 2024 draft. Following a significant trade with Houston, the Vikings now come equipped.
With two first-round picks, promising a degree of flexibility that head coach Kevin O’Connell believes will be invaluable as they approach the draft.
Ten days after securing a second first-round pick and a seventh-round selection for the 2024 draft, the Minnesota Vikings are now in the driving seat.
The possibility is high that the team could package their two first-rounders (Nos. 11 and 23) to secure a potential quarterback spot.
However, according to Kevin O’Connell, another possibility could see the Vikings employing both picks to secure prime talent.
“I think you view it as extra flexibility,” proclaimed O’Connell at the Annual League Meeting. in a draft where between our pick at 11 and the way we’re looking at this draft at pick 23, we think there’s going to be some really good players available, if we were just to stay at those positions and take players, maybe a quarterback, maybe a couple defensive players,”
ICYMI: Vikings' Kevin O'Connell says adding another first-round pick about "flexibility" in 2024 draft, sees "positive situation" for QB Sam Darnoldhttps://t.co/zmhbmAR2QU pic.twitter.com/Se1tuZHftH
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 26, 2024
Emphasizing on the talent pool available within the Top 23, O’Connell admitted his team is targeting multiple slots, counting on the draft’s loaded talent base.
O’Connell suggests the possibility that those marquee defensive players may start to make moves around the 11th pick.
“I think it’s going to be a big-time offensive draft at the top, so when those marquee defensive players start to go, could be in a range around that 11th pick for us, but I think it was about flexibility.”
Intriguingly, O’Connell acknowledged that a trade-up scenario is not out of the equation, provided they find another team interested in playing ball.
“Yes, we want to, if we identify a player that we would like to go up and try to add to our football team — first and foremost, there’s got to be a willing partner to do that and I think there’s going to be processes that play out, conversations here and onto the future,” O’Connell continued. “We’ll figure out if we’re able to do that, but yeah, I think it was ultimately of having the flexibility of having two ones in what we think is a really strong draft, and I don’t think we’re the only ones that view this draft like that.”
The recent trade with Houston solidifies the Viking’s position. The Texas-based team traded their first-round position for two of the Viking’s second-round picks (one in 2024 and another in 2025) and a sixth-rounder.
It was strategic move by Minnesota; one that provides them with the necessary shot should the opportunity to trade-up present itself, especially if they’re hunting for a future quarterback.
