EAGAN, Minn. — The ending of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine and precursor to the NFL's official start of free agency has been condensed dramatically by the "legal tampering" period that began Monday.
But we're proceeding with Version 4.0 of our 2024 Mock Draft Tracker today to work in opinions that were formed from what experts saw and heard at the combine, although many mocks were published in this window before the Vikings announced Monday that they'll be moving on from quarterback Kirk Cousins after six seasons.
That development, along with whatever else happens in free agency, could impact future mocks, but it's time to take another look.
The Minnesota Vikings hold the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and have eight additional picks from Rounds 2 to 7. The reverse order of the previous regular season standings determines the draft order.
View home and away photos of the Vikings 2024 regular season opponents.
Vikings vs. Bears
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings at Seahawks
Lumen Field
Vikings vs. Lions
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings at Titans
Nissan Stadium
Vikings vs. Packers
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings at Bears
Soldier Field
Vikings vs. 49ers
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings at Giants
MetLife Stadium
Vikings vs. Falcons
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings at Lions
Ford Field
Vikings vs. Texans
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings at Packers
Lambeau Field
Vikings vs. Cardinals
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings at Rams
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings vs. Colts
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings at Jaguars
EverBank Stadium
Vikings vs. Jets
U.S. Bank Stadium
The Vikings have picked inside the top 12 just 23 times in franchise history. Twice those selections netted a quarterback, Christian Ponder (2011 No. 12 pick) and Daunte Culpepper (1999 No. 11 pick).
Other notable top 12 selections include Adrian Peterson (2007 No. 7 pick), Bryant McKinnie (2002 No. 7 pick), Kevin Williams (2003 No. 9 pick) and Anthony Barr (2014 No. 9 pick). Three players selected in the top 12 — Carl Eller (1964 No. 6 pick), Ron Yary (1968 No. 1 pick), and Chris Doleman (1985 No. 4 pick) — made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held from April 25-27. The first round begins on April 25. Rounds 2 and 3 follow on April 26, and the final four rounds will occur April 27.
Here is the fourth version of our Vikings 2024 Mock Draft Tracker, which includes 19 recent predictions from across football media (Version 1.0 and Version 2.0 and Version 3.0).
Quarterback (10 projections) supplanted edge rusher (seven) as the most common position the experts believe the Vikings will address in the first round.
Seven prognosticators predicted former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the Vikings, either at No. 11 or through a trade-up by Minnesota. North Carolina product Drake Maye was projected to Minnesota in three mocks.
View the best Vikings celebration photos from the 2023 season.
Here's a look at our fourth Vikings 2024 Mock Draft Tracker:
ESPN's Jordan Reid
March 5, 2024 (two rounds)
The predicted pick at No. 11: J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
McCarthy fits coach Kevin O'Connell's scheme so well. Yes, the passing sample size is limited — he only hit 25 or more passing attempts in 12 of 28 career starts — and his combine workout was inconsistent, but his efficiency at Michigan is noteworthy (72.3 percent completion rate). The infrastructure in Minnesota — with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson catching passes — is set up well for a young signal-caller to grow, too.
The predicted pick at No. 42: Kris Jenkins, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has leaned on explosiveness in defensive prospects since taking over as Minnesota's GM. Jenkins has those traits — he posted a 30-inch vertical at 299 pounds — and the Vikings defensive line could be headed for some turnover.
Click here for Reid's full mock draft.
ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr.
Feb. 28, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Jared Verse, Edge Defender, Florida State
I almost went corner here — Terrion Arnold (Alabama), Cooper DeJean (Iowa) and Nate Wiggins (Clemson) are my top three — but I wonder whether this instead could be the spot for an edge rusher. If Danielle Hunter leaves in free agency, Minnesota would have a massive void to fill.
Verse could be an asset on all three downs. He had 18 sacks over two seasons at FSU, where he also developed into a solid run defender. He was inconsistent at times, but he has some savvy as a pass-rusher.
Click here for Kiper's full mock draft.
The Athletic's Diante Lee
March 11, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 6: J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
Projected trade: Vikings send No. 11, No. 128 and a 2025 first-round pick to the Giants for No. 6 and 2025 third- and fifth-round picks.
I have my qualms with the passer McCarthy is right now, relative to his draft stock, but he has some enticing tools — and he's still early on his developmental curve. He would walk into a healthy offensive situation, and it's possible Minnesota will have a bridge QB he can sit behind until he's ready. After Chicago, this would be the best landing spot for a rookie QB.
The predicted pick at No. 42: Chris Braswell, Edge Defender, Alabama
Click here for Lee's full mock draft.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler
March 5, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 7: J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
Projected trade: Vikings send No. 11, No. 109 and a 2025 second-rounder to the Titans for No. 7
With Denver, Las Vegas, New Orleans and maybe a few other teams potentially in the McCarthy market, it might require a trade up for Minnesota to nab the Michigan quarterback.
Click here for Brugler's full mock draft.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
March 8, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Laiatu Latu, Edge Defender, UCLA
The Vikings would need to make quarterback a higher priority if they can't or choose not to re-sign Kirk Cousins for one more season, but they also need to address their defense with a versatile pass rusher who can blow up a lot of plays. Latu can fill that exact hole well.
Click here for Iyer's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks
Feb. 27, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Jared Verse, Edge Defender, Florida State
The ultra-explosive pass rusher could wreak havoc on opponents as a designated playmaker in Brian Flores' scheme.
Click here for Brooks' full mock draft.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein
March 4, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Dallas Turner, Edge Defender, Alabama
General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah recently rejected the idea of dealing Justin Jefferson, but if he changes his mind, then this pick could easily become Rome Odunze. For now, we add a pass rusher who tested off the charts at the combine and comes with a winning pedigree.
Click here for Zierlein's full mock draft.
NFL.com's Charles Davis
March 6, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Jared Verse, Edge Defender, Florida State
The Vikings boost the pass rush in hopes of overtaking Detroit and Green Bay in the division.
Click here for Davis' full mock draft.
CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson
March 5, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 5 (after a projected trade with the Chargers): Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina
Last year, three QBs went in the top four picks. And in 2021, the top three selections were all QBs. You'd have to go back to 2017 to find the last time four QBs went in the top 10 (before that? 1949). We could see four quarterbacks off the board through five picks this year, especially if multiple teams are able to trade up. And that's what happens in this mock draft: the Vikings move up to take Drake Maye as their next face of the franchise.
Click here for Wilson's full mock draft.
CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso
March 6, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina
The top 10 couldn't have played out better for the Vikings here, as Maye falls into their lap at No. 11. He ticks all the boxes.
Click here for Trapasso's full mock draft.
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards
March 7, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Jared Verse, Edge Defender, Florida State
Marcus Davenport and Danielle Hunter are slated to hit free agency, so that creates a need at the position.
Click here for Edwards' full mock draft.
CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli
March 9, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 5 (after a trade with the Chargers): J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
So Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers trade down with the Vikings team Harbaugh interviewed for a couple of years ago, and then the Vikings use that pick to take Harbaugh's former QB at Michigan. In this scenario, Kirk Cousins has left for Atlanta, and the Vikings replace him with another QB who is very comfortable working over the middle of the field.
Click here for Fornelli's full mock draft.
CBS Sports' Kyle Stackpole
March 4, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Terrion Arnold, Cornerback, Alabama
Terrion Arnold, having arrived at Alabama as one of the top safety prospects in the nation, has only been playing cornerback for a few years. But he has the versatility, athleticism and ball skills (five interceptions, 17 pass breakups in 2023) to elevate the Minnesota secondary for years to come.
Click here for Stackpole's full mock draft.
Pro Football Network's Tony Catalina
March 10, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Dallas Turner, Edge Defender, Alabama
Dallas Turner will provide a real weapon to the pass rush, adding a skilled edge defender with outstanding athletic traits to a Vikings defense that could use more playmakers.
Click here for Catalina's full mock draft.
Pro Football Network's Wil Helms
March 11, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 5 (after a trade with the Chargers): Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina
Per the Rich Hill trade value chart, this is as even a swap (No. 11 and 42 to Los Angeles for No. 5 and 106) as it gets. While Los Angeles could likely get more value from another team in the 11-13 range, I don't see the Chargers giving one of its rivals a shot at a franchise quarterback. Accordingly, they settle for a swap of firsts, giving Minnesota a fourth to offset the extra value of the second.
Drake Maye is excellent in a timing-based offense and throws an excellent deep ball, giving the Vikings a guy who can get the ball to his playmakers both in space and further down the field.
Click here for Helms' full mock draft.
Pro Football Network's Anthony Miller
March 12, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
The Minnesota Vikings took a massive hit at quarterback when they lost Kirk Cousins to the Falcons in the opening salvo of legal tampering. Jaren Hall, Joshua Dobbs, or Nick Mullens don't appear to be the long-term solutions.
Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a proven winner with great accuracy. McCarthy is a playmaker who can make Justin Jefferson excited for the Vikings future.
Click here for Miller's full mock draft.
The Draft Network's Damian Parson
March 10, 2024 (two rounds)
The predicted pick at No. 5 (after a trade with the Chargers): J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
The Vikings should focus on resetting the QB position. Trading up to select a toolsy J.J. McCarthy to fit within Kevin O'Connell's offense with a great WR duo sounds like the move to make!
Note: Parson dealt Minnesota's second-round pick, as well as first- and third-round picks in 2025 in order for the Vikings to move up six spots.
Click here for Parson's full mock draft.
The Draft Network's Keith Sanchez
March 3, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 11: Nate Wiggins, Cornerback, Clemson
At the NFL Combine, Nate Wiggins showed that he is an elite-level athlete, and that's exactly what the Vikings need in a defense that likes to blitz and play man.
Click here for Sanchez's full mock draft.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today
March 12, 2024
The predicted pick at No. 5 (after a trade with the Chargers): J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
Maybe a move wouldn't be reasonable until draft day, when General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Co. could see how the top few picks panned out.
Click here for Middlehurst-Schwartz's full mock draft.
