The 2024 NFL Draft was upon us, and the excitement was building. All the general managers were standing in a line, getting ready to meet NFL Santa Claus Roger Goodell and tell them who they wanted to select with their picks.
For months, fans had written in on social media, telling them what they wanted for this special day. Not like any of the general managers had read them, but they had a pretty good idea as they approached Cranky Ol’ Commissioner Goodell.
Finally, it was the Vikings’ turn. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah raced up to Commissioner Goodell and jumped on his lap. But there was some hesitation in his voice. Finally, Goodell forced the issue.
“What do you want for the NFL Draft?” Goodell snarled.
“A Red Ryder BB-gun! No, wait, I want a franchise quarterback!” Adofo-Mensah shouted.
Goodell rolled his eyes.
“You’ll just draft Christian Ponder, kid.”
Goodell kicked Adofo-Mensah down the slide, and he fell into the pit of failed general managers. Rick Spielman was there to greet him as he filmed a TikTok explaining Malik Willis’ response to an overrated chant.
It’s a common bad dream for Vikings fans who fear who Minnesota will select as their next franchise quarterback. But any attempt to acquire a franchise quarterback is a good one – no matter how great the cost.
Minnesota’s journey for a franchise quarterback began when Fran Tarkenton retired. Tommy Kramer and Wade Wilson made cameos before Dennis Green Frankensteined the position through the ’90s. Minnesota selected Daunte Culpepper with the 11th-overall pick in the 1999 draft, and he nearly won an MVP award before injuring his knee in 2005.
The saga continued when Brad Childress tried to mold Tarvaris Jackson. But it didn’t work out, and Childress recruited Brett Favre. The gunslinger’s downfall in 2010 led the Vikings back to the franchise quarterback well. But the 2011 draft didn’t play in Minnesota’s favor, leaving them with Ponder in 2011.
Ponder failed in Minnesota, and the Vikings took another swing with Bridgewater in 2014. The Gloved One led the Vikings to a division title in 2015, but he injured his knee and left the Vikings scrambling again. Kirk Cousins eventually filled the void for six years. However, he left behind a legacy of plenty of empty stats and one playoff win. With Cousins gone, Vikings fans’ PTSD over a quarterback has returned and left everyone gun-shy.
But there are a few reasons Vikings fans should be optimistic about getting a quarterback. The first is that Minnesota is a perfect place to develop a young signal-caller.
The San Francisco 49ers are a best-case example. San Francisco had a roster that reached the Super Bowl in 2019 but wanted a quarterback to put it all together. The Niners took their swing by trading three first-round picks to draft Trey Lance, and it didn’t pan out. Still, San Francisco remained one of the powers in the NFC and returned to the Super Bowl with Brock Purdy last spring.
Vikings fans may wonder how they did that, but it had to do with the players around the quarterback. The 49ers built a dominant offensive line highlighted by Trent Williams and used their cap flexibility to add pieces like Javon Hargrave. Mix in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle, and it’s part of why Purdy has succeeded.
You can argue that the Vikings have implemented the same system. Justin Jefferson is the top receiver in football and will likely sign a contract extension this summer. Jordan Addison is a top-tier No. 2 receiver, and T.J. Hockenson is a tight end on Kittle’s level.
The offensive line could use some work, but the Vikings added Aaron Jones to upgrade the running game. Kevin O’Connell spent the second half of last season getting the most out of Nick Mullens and Josh Dobbs, and Brian Flores is continuing to gather the personnel he needs to produce a top-10 defense.
It’s the scenario Culpepper walked into in 2000 with Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Robert Smith behind “The Minnesota Moving Company.” With Green at the controls, the Vikings made their way to the NFC Championship game (but we won’t talk about what happened there).
There’s no guarantee that the quarterback the Vikings take will turn them into a dynasty. It also may take a year for the new quarterback to get acclimated, as it did with Culpepper sitting behind Jeff George and Randall Cunningham. While Sam Darnold doesn’t inspire confidence, it’s easy to see him being a placeholder until the new quarterback is ready.
But this leads us to another concern: the price to acquire said quarterback.
Minnesota’s tendency to stay in the middle of the pack has limited their opportunities to get a franchise quarterback. Talented signal callers like Lamar Jackson (32nd overall in 2018) and Purdy (final pick in the 2022 draft) can come from anywhere, but there’s a much better chance of landing one with a higher pick.
While some believe the best way to get that pick is by tanking, it doesn’t always work. The New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and other franchises have tried to tank for a quarterback of the future. However, poor infrastructure — and, in some cases, a whiff in evaluation — has led them to become ill-fated saviors that set the franchise back where it started.
But, as we explained, the Vikings aren’t in that situation. Some holes could be filled, but acquiring the 23rd-overall pick from the Houston Texans gives them some ammunition to trade up and flexibility if it falls through.
Let’s do the worst-case scenario first. We’ll put that in quotation marks because the Vikings could land another talented player with the 11th-overall pick. Byron Murphy II is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the draft. Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline suggested that Murphy could be the backup plan if no quarterback is available at pick No. 11.
That could lead the Vikings to select Michael Penix or Bo Nix with the 23rd-overall pick or in a trade-up later in the first round. Both players could theoretically step into the role, but it resembles the same “let the chips fall where they may” attitude that landed Christian Ponder.
It may also come down to whether Jefferson likes either player. Jefferson is the crown jewel of Minnesota’s infrastructure, and choosing the wrong quarterback could make the ill-fated proposals floating around the internet a reality and send the Vikings into a full-blown rebuild, without the “competitiveness.”
That leaves the option of a trade-up. The first three teams in the draft – the Chicago Bears, the Washington Commanders, and the New England Patriots – appear locked into a quarterback. The Patriots have also been rumored to be interested in trading out of the third spot, but it might take a “Godfather offer” to get it done.
The Arizona Cardinals could also be a trade partner, but they could also covet wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as a critical piece of their own infrastructure.
The Los Angeles Chargers could also be interested in trading down, but Jim Harbaugh has done weirder things. He claimed that J.J. McCarthy would be considered the top quarterback in the draft by the end of the evaluation process. That’s unlikely, considering the Chargers have Justin Herbert. But stranger stuff has revolved around Harbaugh over the past few years.
Long story short, it will take a lot to trade up for a quarterback, but it might be worth it. Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane shed some light on this process at the combine. He traded the 12th-overall pick and two second-rounders to trade up five spots for Josh Allen during the 2018 draft.
“We got criticized for how much we gave up for Josh and I’m like, ‘If he doesn’t work out, I’m not going to be here anyway,’” Beane said. “And if he does work out, nobody’s going to give a s—.”
Beane’s perspective is hilarious but true. Name the price the Kansas City Chiefs paid for Patrick Mahomes without looking. What did the New York Giants give up to get Eli Manning? The Carolina Panthers may have paid too much for Bryce Young last year, but Scott Fitterer is no longer there.
Minnesota’s brain trust is in a similar situation as they approach the third year of four-year contracts. Penix could turn out fine, but it may be worth giving up the farm to get the guy they love if they aren’t entirely sold.
They may shoot their eye out and wind up in the land of misfit quarterbacks. But they won’t know until they take the chance, and the reward may be great enough that the risk doesn’t matter.
