Mock draft season is upon us and that means our mock draft roundup is back!
What we do every week is track the mainstream outlets mock drafts and aggregate how many times a player gets selected. Last season, we tallied up 545 mock drafts and that included a whopping 54 different players. With the Minnesota Vikings set to pick 11th overall, there will be a lot of discussions surrounding the quarterbacks in this draft along with trading up.
We will track them and try to determine trends and patterns, along with giving my own analysis on how they could fit with the Vikings.
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
Who:
The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez
At the Senior Bowl, Michael Penix Jr. showed that he can work under center and that’s exactly what the Vikings’ front office needed to see. In Minnesota, Penix Jr. would have two high-level weapons to throw the ball to along with one of the best play-callers in the NFL.-Sanchez
Florida State EDGE Jared Verse
Who:
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein
Bears Wire’s Alyssa Barbieri
Touchdown Wire’s Jarrett Bailey
Vikings Wire’s Chris Spooner
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema
The Vikings have big free agency decisions looming at defensive end. I see the explosive Verse as the best option at a position of need.-Zierlein
Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
Who:
ESPN’s Matt Miller
PFF’s NFL Stock Exchange
Pro Football Network’s Joe Broback
CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli
Sports Illustrated’s Luke Easterling
NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund
Fantasy Pros’ Dennis Sosic
The Vikings are at a crossroads with quarterback Kirk Cousins hitting free agency at 36 years old and coming off an Achilles tear suffered in Week 8. Could they pull the trigger on Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix or Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.? Yes, but there are needs across the board. Danielle Hunter is a free agent, and Turner would perfectly fit D-coordinator Brian Flores’ defensive wish list at edge rusher.
Turner had 10 sacks in his breakout 2023 season, and one NFC area scout thinks his ceiling is higher than former college teammate Will Anderson Jr., who went No. 3 in last year’s draft. Turner has excellent speed in space with a pro player comparison to the Jaguars’ Josh Allen. He’s my top-ranked defender in the class and would be a steal this late in the night.-Miller
Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
Who:
Pro Football Network’s Oliver Hodgkinson
Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey
CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards
The Minnesota Vikings are considered a trade-up contender, so this move isn’t a surprise. While the selection might be considered out of left field, the team has a significant need in the secondary. Trading picks with the New York Jets ensures they’re not gazumped for Terrion Arnold, a truly elite cornerback prospect who adds value in all phases.-Hodgkinson
Texas DT Byron Murphy II
Who:
The 33rd Team’s Connor Livesay
There is more and more talk about Byron Murphy II going much higher than the media is projecting.
Checking all the size, production and tape boxes, Murphy is quickly working his way up boards to be the draft’s top defensive tackle. The Minnesota Vikings could use some help up the middle for next season.-Livesay
USC QB Caleb Williams
Who:
Pro Football Network’s Wil Helms
I’m completely on board with the Minnesota Vikings trading up for their quarterback of the future. It’s so rare that teams hit on multiple receivers, but Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are probably the best receiving duo in football.
Accordingly, Minnesota needs to swing for the fences and take a quarterback. If the board falls this way, the Vikings can swoop in for Williams, who has the highest upside of any quarterback in the class.
LSU QB Jayden Daniels
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
Who:
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso
The Draft Network’s Damian Parson
The Vikings go with McCarthy, who has plus arm talent and athleticism, two things the quarterback spot has lacked in Minnesota during the productive Kirk Cousins era.-Trapasso
Oregon QB Bo Nix
Who:
Pro Football Network’s Owain Jones
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema
With Cousins leaving in free agency, the Vikings must find their future at the position. They could be a candidate to trade up if anyone at the top is willing to negotiate. However, in this mock, they end up with Bo Nix.
Fans should prepare for Nix to be drafted much higher than many realize. At Oregon, he has been one of the top QBs in college football over the last two years and has the traits and experience that should allow him to slot straight in at the next level.-Jones
Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
Who:
Pro Football Network’s Lorenzo Reyna
The Vikings may become torn between Terrion Arnold or Cooper DeJean at No. 11.
PFN NFL Insider Adam Caplan recently spoke with a “high-level scouting source” who told him DeJean is a top-five talent. DeJean is a fleet-footed option as a gap closer with his speed and click-and-close ability. He’s also shown a knack for being a processor in knowing when to jump on routes and adjust his hip direction.-Reyna
Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
Who:
Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy
College Sports Wire’s Ryan Roberts
The Vikings need to address multiple positions including cornerback and Nate Wiggins is a top prospect with his experience.-Popejoy
Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton
Who:
Vikings Wire’s Tyler Forness
The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer
The Vikings need to beef up their defensive front and find a potential nose tackle replacement for Harrison Phillips. Newton is a natural run-stopper with some untapped pass-rush upside.-Iyer
Overview
Through six weeks, we have collected 132 mock drafts, including 26 this week with 11 different players (one new) being sent to the Vikings.
| Player | Total |
| EDGE Jared Verse | 20 |
| EDGE Laiatu Latu | 17 |
| DT Jer’Zhan Newton | 16 |
| EDGE Dallas Turner | 15 |
| QB Michael Penix Jr. | 13 |
| CB Terrion Arnold | 10 |
| QB Jayden Daniels | 8 |
| CB Kool-Aid McKinstry | 6 |
| CB Cooper DeJean | 6 |
| CB Nate Wiggins | 5 |
| QB J.J. McCarthy | 5 |
| QB Bo Nix | 4 |
| DT Byron Murphy II | 3 |
| EDGE Chop Robinson | 2 |
| OT Olu Fashanu | 1 |
| QB Drake Maye | 1 |
| QB Caleb Williams | 1 |
| Total through 6 weeks | 133 |
