L&K
With two of their selections used to trade up in the first round to get players in two of their major need areas, the Vikings traded up to secure seven picks overall in the 2024 NFL Draft from their original nine picks.
J.J. McCARTHY QB, Michigan (No. 10; Round 1)
On Thursday night, the Vikings moved up one place to grab their next franchise quarterback. McCarthy has triumphed in every competition, having advanced to three state championship games, won one while playing for Nazareth Academy north of Chicago, and only lost one game in his two seasons as a starter at Michigan, where he was awarded a national championship. Having turned 21 in January, he is the youngest quarterback selected in the first round of 2024. In addition, he completed fewer passes per game last season—22—than any other first-round quarterback because to the Wolverines’ dominant run-oriented offence and uncanny defence.
TURNER DALLAS Edge, Ala. (No. 17, Round 1)
Turner was the third defender taken in the first round, and the Vikings acquired him by trading up six positions. Turner, a 21-year-old from South Florida, ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.46 seconds) and had the best vertical jump for his position at the NFL scouting combine. He also lead all edge rushers. In addition to having 10 sacks and leading Alabama in tackles for loss during the previous season, he was named the SEC defensive player of the year. When asked at the combine which NFL players he looks up to, he initially mentioned Danielle Hunter, a former edge rusher for the Vikings.
Jackson, Khyree CB, Oregon (No. 108, Round 4)
The Vikings utilised their first pick on Day 3 to address their need for physically strong corners who can play man coverage, having forfeited their picks in the second and third rounds. Jackson, a 6-foot-4 cornerback, demonstrated his willingness to challenge receivers by running a 40-yard time in 4.5 seconds. Jackson, a 24-year-old from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, began his career at the junior college level and started just 13 Division I games. He played two seasons at Alabama (where he was teammates with Turner) and one season at Oregon. Last season, he recorded three interceptions, seven pass breakups, two sacks, and five tackles for a loss while playing for the Ducks.
RALTER ROUSE LT, Oklahoma (No. 177), Round 6.
The 23-year-old, 6-6, 313-pound Rouse began four seasons as a left tackle for Stanford before transferring to Oklahoma, where he started the previous campaign. He is a native of the Washington, D.C., region and the grandson of Loyola-Chicago basketball hero Vic Rouse, who made the game-winning shot against Cincinnati in the 1963 national championship game. When he finishes his playing career, he intends to work in medical engineering.
REICHARD WILLIAM K, Alabama (No. 203), Round 6.
The 23-year-old Reichard, a record-setting kicker for the Crimson Tide, was raised in Hoover, Alabama. Reichard, the SEC’s special teams player of the year, completed 22 of 25 field goals and 55 of 55 PATs in 2023, including five of five attempts from 50 yards and beyond. He finished his career with a major college record 547 career points, school records with 84 field goals, and 10 field goals from 50 yards and beyond. He also made 295 of 297 PATs and 84 of 100 field goals. He turns becomes the favourite to defeat John Parker Romo in a training camp competition to take Greg Joseph’s spot, who signed a free agent contract and moved to Green Bay.
Michael Jurgens OL, Wake Forest (No. 230, Round 7)
Although Jurgens, who is rated at 6-4 and 311 pounds, won’t pose a danger to starter centre Garrett Bradbury, he will help an offensive line that lost centre Austin Schlottmann and guard Dalton Risner this offseason by adding depth. Dan Feeney, an experienced guard/center, was also signed by the Vikings. In college, Jurgens, 24, played for six seasons. The Vikings added another seasoned blocker in Jurgens, who started 46 games at centre and guard, after drafting veteran left tackle Rouse (who made 52 starts in college).
DRAKE RODRIGUEZ, LEVI DT, Texas A&M-Commerce, No. 232, Round 7.
Rodriguez, a native of Texas (listed at 6-4, 290), earned a scholarship to Texas A&M-Commerce in 2022 and went on to be named FCS All-America. He began playing collegiate baseball at Southwestern Assemblies of God, an NAIA school. Last season, Rodriguez recorded 5.5 sacks. He was given a predraft visitation pass by the Vikings at TCO Performance Centre, but he was not invited to the NFL scouting combine.
DEFENCY FREE AGENTS
The Vikings signed 17 undrafted free agents on Saturday night, just after the draft concluded. LB K.J. Cloyd, Miami; OL Jeremy Flax, Kentucky; OL Matt Cindric, California Dallas Gant, Toledo; TE Trey Knox, South Carolina; DL Tyler Manoa, Arizona; LB Donovan Manuel, Florida International; CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas; OLB Gabriel Murphy, UCLA; OL Doug Nester, West Virginia; OLB Owen Porter, Marshall; OLB Bo Richter, Air Force; WR Devron Harper, Mercer; WR Ty James, Mercer; WR Jeshaun Jones, Maryland.
