The day is finally here. After much anticipation, falling in and out of love with prospects, and scouring every mock draft on the internet for “the one,” it’s draft day. This draft will likely signal the start of a new era for the Minnesota Vikings, with most pundits expecting them to move up in pursuit of their quarterback of the future.
Rather than add yet one more mock draft onto the pile, we’ve combed through endless predictions to bring you a comprehensive guide to what all the experts expect to happen at the 11th hour.
Here is who every mock draft has the Vikings selecting.
Field Yates ESPN+
Trade up to Pick 8, J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Vikings get: No. 8
Falcons get: No. 11, No. 129, and a 2025 third-rounder
McCarthy would be in an excellent situation with Minnesota’s supporting cast, and the Vikings would also preserve their 23rd-overall pick by moving to only No. 8 to get him. McCarthy has the high-end accuracy to get the ball to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, as well as the mobility to pick up yards on the ground. And I know Minnesota has Sam Darnold, but I believe McCarthy would start right away.
Yates has the Vikings keeping both first-rounders and not selling the farm in their pursuit of a quarterback. Instead, they moved up three spots for Michigan JJ McCarthy.
Pick 23, Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Latu would join Jonathan Greenard for Minnesota’s new-look pass rush on defense. He had the best tape of any defensive player in the class and can become a double-digit sack artist in the NFL. After all, he had 23.5 of them over the past two seasons at UCLA. Medical concerns over a prior neck injury (while at Washington in 2020) would be the only reason he slides to this slot.
With the pick the Vikings acquired from Houston, Yates has Minnesota going edge and drafting Latu from UCLA. A player with plenty of college production and great skill, Latu would have gone higher if not for injury concerns. He would join an edge rushing unit that the Vikings overhauled by adding Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel.
Kevin Seifert ESPN+
Trade to Pick 5, J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Vikings get: No. 5
Chargers get: Nos. 11, 23, and 108, plus a third-round pick in 2025
This trade was the cleanest way to ensure the Vikings got a first-round quarterback and true successor to Kirk Cousins. They used substantial draft capital but preserved their 2025 first-round pick. Offers for No. 3 and No. 4, which included three first-round picks, were turned down. Absent this deal, McCarthy could have gone as early as No. 6 to the Giants, which would have left the Vikings competing for the fifth quarterback of the draft at their original No. 11 spot. In terms of coaching and personnel, McCarthy lands in the best spot of all the first-round passers.
Yet another analyst who has McCarthy going to the Vikings, Seifert surmises that they will have to move up into the top five and jump the New York Giants if they want to select him. Seifert claims that McCarthy will land in the ideal spot and will be the envy of all other rookie QBs in this class, considering the bevy of weapons the Vikings have to offer a young QB.
Charles Davis NFL Network
Pick 11, Drake Maye, QB, UNC
The Vikings are armed for the fight (having acquired an additional first-round pick last month) and in position to move up if necessary in order to get their guy. In this mock, they stand pat and still get him.
The ideal situation for most Vikings fans is Drake Maye, a quarterback most expect to be selected in the top three, taking a draft day tumble and landing at pick 11. In this scenario, the Vikings get the best of both worlds (Hannah Montana™). Not only do they land their quarterback of the future, but they don’t have to move up and can keep pick 23.
Pick 23, Jared Verse, Edge, FSU
The small-school standout (Verse spent his first three years of college at Albany) leveled up to Power Five stardom (his past two years at Florida State) through talent, effort and grit. He helps ease the free-agency departure of elite edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
Davis also has the Vikings addressing the edge, selecting Verse with their second pick. Verse is an athletic freak who defensive coordinators drool over, and he will likely carve out a nice rotational role alongside Van Ginkle and Greenard.
Dave Richard CBS
Trade up to Pick 3, Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Vikings get: No. 3
Patriots get: No. 11, No. 23, and a 2025 first-rounder
The Vikings pay the exceptionally heavy price to get their guy. Maye’s tight with Minnesota QB coach Josh McCown and will become tight with head coach Kevin O’Connell, who desperately needs a big-armed passer to feed his playmaking trio of pass-catchers. Maye is arguably best in his class at making anticipatory throws, and has the cannon to hit passes near and over 50 air yards. There are some things he will have to improve upon including his footwork and reading defenses, but his upside is extremely high. It’ll take an offer this big for the Patriots to move down — and then possibly move back up. Landing in Minnesota would shrink the distance between him and the first two QBs in drafts considerably; he’d go right after Daniels in rookie-only Superflex/two-QB leagues and within three picks of Daniels in one-QB formats. And in redraft it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Maye get taken BEFORE Daniels, but the two will probably get snagged within 10 picks of each other regardless of format.
Rogers has the Vikings moving up to three spots to make Maye their highest-selected quarterback in franchise history. This likely is a more realistic situation in which the Vikings would land Maye, allowing the Patriots to reset their roster with three top-end picks.
Paul Allen Power Trip Morning Show Mock Draft (No Trades Allowed)
Pick 11, J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Based on his sources, Allen thinks that McCarthy would likely be the most likely QB to slide out of the top 10. He also states that while he selected McCarthy with this pick, in all reality, he is waiting on a trade with the New England Patriots for Drake Maye. Allen says he believes that Kevin O’Connell is infatuated with Maye and will shell out picks to get their guy.
Pick 23, Graham Barton, OG, Duke
Again, Allen likely thinks that this pick will be used in a trade-up. However, if the Vikings keep it, they will target Bryon Murphy II or Jerzahn Newton if they’re available. Both were selected in this mock, so he pivoted to Graham Barton, a versatile lineman who can play any position and who Allen figures will start at left guard Week 1.
