Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media has the benefit of having experience within an NFL draft room and being in the media landscape. Because of that unusual connection, he has reliable sources that make his mock drafts more accurate than most.
Last year he predicted the Houston Texans, who held the second overall selection, trading up to get No. 3 as well. In 2024, Jeremiah has the Minnesota Vikings taking a similarly bold choice by standing pat and not trading up for a quarterback. Instead, a quarterback was predicted to fall to them. Vikings fans can take a deep breath if that happens.
J.J. McCarthy falls down to No. 11 in Jeremiah’s mock draft, meaning the Vikings get their man. Not only do they get their quarterback, but they do it without mortgaging the future. McCarthy will need some time to adjust to the NFL system and his way of being a passer, but he projects very well in Minnesota.
With their second pick of the first round, the Minnesota Vikings were able to land highly athletic pass rusher Chop Robinson. The Penn State alum has been projected from the middle of Round 1 to the middle of Round 2. Not many players have that type of range, but that is because they don’t have the upside of Robinson.
Giving McCarthy the likes of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, then giving Robinson the opportunity to line up alongside Jonathan Greenard, should excite everyone.
This is the best-case scenario for the team, period. They need to keep as much draft capital as possible while adding a quarterback. This is the path to do just that.