The Minnesota Vikings’ first night of the NFL Draft was successful. They found their quarterback of the future in J.J. McCarthy and followed that up by drafting Dallas Turner, a dominant edge rusher.
Draft analysts praised Minnesota’s work and gave them several As in their draft grades. But as the sun rose, fans were left with a different question.
What now?
The most important question of the 2024 draft has been answered, but the Vikings will go to work on Day 3. With five picks, including four in the final two rounds, the Vikings will be active in the final hours of a three-day extravaganza. But if there’s one area that needs the most work, it’s along the offensive and defensive lines.
That makes sense, considering how Minnesota’s offseason has played out. After Kirk Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings went to work adding a stable of edge rushers to Brian Flores’ defense.
Jonathan Greenard is ostensibly Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter replacement, but his ability to drop into coverage and do a little bit of everything could make him an upgrade. Andrew Van Ginkel is a pass rush specialist, and Blake Cashman offers something a little different than Jordan Hicks.
The Turner addition takes things a step further. Nick Saban said he used Turner all over the place during his time at Alabama. He’ll learn under Flores in Minnesota, who introduced various exotic looks last year.
The Vikings added some depth to the secondary with the Shaquill Griffin signing. Cornerback remains a need even with Mekhi Blackmon, Byron Murphy Jr., and Akayleb Evans set to return next season.
But even with those voids filled, they must address some holes on the defensive line. Harrison Phillips did a yeoman’s effort in the trenches, but 838 snaps stretched him thin – a team-high for interior defenders.
Phillips also was the team’s best interior pass-rusher, but it wasn’t by much. Phillips had 21 quarterback pressures. The next two were a tie between Khyiris Tonga and Jonathan Bullard, who each had nine pressures.
The Vikings brought Bullard back on a one-year deal, but Tonga signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Jaquelin Roy was a fifth-round pick who could see more playing time. However, the Vikings should find a player who can create havoc in the trenches.
If the Vikings stick in the fourth round, they could have some options. Miami’s Leonard Taylor is another inconsistent player. He was an honorable All-ACC mention in 2022 with 10.5 tackles for loss. However, he only had 19 tackles with three for loss in 10 games during his final season in Coral Gables.
Going bargain-hunting for players with raw athletic tools isn’t a terrible approach, and other players such as Mississippi State’s Jaden Crumedy, Florida State’s Fabien Lovett Sr., and Northern Iowa’s Khristian Boyd could interest the Vikings in the later rounds.
If anything, the Vikings could add some much-needed depth at the interior defender position and keep their defenders fresh. That approach could maximize Phillips’ potential and help Flores’ defense maintain some push.
Then there’s the offensive line, which had its best season in a decade. However, a final piece could make it a juggernaut.
McCarthy expressed excitement when the Vikings picked him, and there were many reasons why. McCarthy will be throwing to the best receiver in football, Justin Jefferson, and will have other top targets, including Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.
The Vikings addressed their running game with the addition of Aaron Jones. Even though they could use one more receiver after K.J. Osborn‘s departure, the interior of the offensive line is the final area Minnesota needs to address.
Ed Ingram took a big step forward, cutting his quarterback pressures by one-third in his second season. However, Garrett Bradbury battled a back injury and ineffectiveness, while Dalton Risner remains a free agent. The Vikings retained Blake Brandel to fill Risner’s spot, but they could use one more guy to add some depth and attitude in the trenches.
The Vikings could look at South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick to fill that void. McCormick turns 24 in May, which is a bit of a concern. However, he brings a saltiness the Vikings haven’t had at the guard position since Steve Hutchinson retired.
A projected fourth-round pick, McCormick could be an adequate solution. Even a sixth- or seventh-round selection could go a long way to building something here as the Vikings try to fine-tune their flaws.
While the Vikings could go in other directions, the trenches seem to be the quickest way to build a competitor in 2024. For a franchise that isn’t fond of missing the playoffs, the right selections could make a world of difference and help Minnesota make life easier for themselves next year.
