Vikings Elite Dual-Threat QB Netted via Draft-Day Trade Pitch for Three Picks
Kirk Cousins, the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, could return, or the team could select a worthy replacement in the upcoming NFL draft.
On Monday, January 29, Gavin Dorsey of the Star Tribune wrote a trade pitch that sees Minnesota take LSU’s Jayden Daniels in the first round, moving up four spots from No. 11 to No. 7.
The Vikings and Tennessee Titans would make a trade that would give Minnesota the No. 7 pick to spend on Daniels and the Titans’ 102nd selection (late third round). In the first round, Tennessee would drop four positions to No. 11 and obtain Minnesota’s picks Nos. 42 and 153 for that consideration.
Given how many QB-needy teams there are, it may be far too difficult trade into the top three for USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Daniels is a fast-rising prospect, but the Vikings may be able to snag him without giving up too much to jump in front of a team like the Falcons at No. 8.
Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, is dynamic with both his arm and his legs, combining for 50 scores to just five turnovers, and got better as the season went on. The Vikings reportedly thought about trading up for Florida’s Anthony Richardson last year; perhaps coach Kevin O’Connell wants to go for a different SEC QB with a similar playing style.
The Vikings’ attempt to choose Jayden Daniels at number seven in the NFL Draft may not be successful.
Dorsey’s plan makes sense and is feasible, but it has a possible drawback in that it ignores the very likely chance that Daniels won’t be available at No. 7 overall.
On January 23, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper unveiled his first mock draft, predicting Daniels would pass Maye and select the Washington Commanders at No. 2 overall.
The Commanders have a much more straightforward decision than the Bears. Sam Howell, who led the league in interceptions in 2023, is not the guy. They have to take a quarterback in a draft that has a clear top tier of three signal-callers: Williams, Daniels and [Maye].
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner improved so much in 2023, throwing 40 touchdown passes to just four interceptions while going up against a tough SEC schedule. … The bottom line is it’s tight between Daniels and Maye on my board, but Daniels would be an tremendous fit for a Washington roster that has some young playmakers on offense. Maye’s inconsistency at the end of the season is enough for me to put Daniels at No. 2.
