We’re only through four weeks of the NFL season, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the NFL draft. Trevor Sikkema over at PFF has done just that, with his latest first-round mock NFL draft. Predictably, he has the Minnesota Vikings looking to kickstart the post-Kirk Cousins era. But who he has the Vikings selecting is perhaps a curious choice.
With the fifth pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Sikkema has the Vikings taking Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It’s no secret that Cousins is unlikely to be back in Minneapolis with the way this season has gone to this point. Looking toward the next era of Vikings football would be in the team’s best interest, and with the weapons they currently have, drafting the right quarterback could lead to a quick turnaround.
Buy Vikings TicketsWhat’s interesting about this pick is the perceived reach that it would be. Both Bo Nix and Michael Penix, Jr. were still on the board at the time of this selection. Both quarterbacks, according to both average draft position in the Mock Draft Simulator and PFF Big Board rankings, are higher-ranked prospects than McCarthy.
As Sikkema notes, it’s believed that many in the NFL are enamored with the potential that McCarthy has shown this season. He’s shown a lot of growth, particularly with how he reacts to pressure. Is that enough to elevate him to a top 5 selection over the likes of Nix and Penix? We’ll have to wait and see, but the projection this early in the season is certainly an interesting one.
We’ve seen NFL front offices fall in love with potential before, only to be swiftly shown the door when that potential doesn’t pan out.
