There’s “perception amongst some groups” that the Minnesota Vikings are enthusiastic about buying and selling up for former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye within the 2024 NFL draft, in response to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Drake Maye, I’ve heard from a number of league execs he has essentially the most upside of any of the quarterbacks on this draft, perhaps any participant on this draft,” Fowler mentioned throughout a Friday look on SportsCenter. “He is received that Josh Allen, Justin Herbert construct—I am not saying he is them however he is received a few of these shades—the place in the event you can let him sit for a 12 months behind the scenes, he can actually become an All-Star.”
“The Vikings may very well be an ideal situation for them,” added Fowler. “There is a perception amongst some groups that Minnesota may attempt to commerce as much as get him. It will take lots, however they’re armed with two first-round picks to attempt to make it occur.”
The Vikings may use a younger franchise quarterback equivalent to Maye to construct the group round after former beginning quarterback Kirk Cousins signed a large four-year contract price $180 million with the Atlanta Falcons in free company.
Minnesota added former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold on March 11, handing him a one-year deal price $10 million. Nevertheless, Darnold is probably going serving as a stopgap quarterback as an alternative of a long-term resolution beneath middle.
The Vikings are at present armed with the No. 11 and No. 23 total picks within the 2024 draft, though they may bundle them along with extra belongings to be able to transfer up into Maye’s anticipated vary.
It is perhaps tough for Minnesota to discover a commerce accomplice, although. The Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and the New England Patriots maintain the highest three picks within the draft. These three groups all look like enthusiastic about a rookie quarterback after buying and selling incumbent signal-callers Justin Fields, Sam Howell, and Mac Jones respectively.
Nonetheless, the idea of Maye throwing to Minnesota’s weapons is attractive for common supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The Vikings boast one of many league’s most proficient receivers in Justin Jefferson, whereas former first-round choose Jordan Addison racked up 911 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2023.
Maye is coming off a formidable senior marketing campaign with the Tar Heels, throwing for 3,608 yards and speeding for 449 extra. He recorded 24 landing passes in comparison with 9 interceptions.
Within the newest mock draft from Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Division, Maye was chosen by the Commanders with the No. 2 total choose.
B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen was impressed with Maye’s mixture of athleticism and off-platform throwing capability.
“He has the athleticism, arm expertise and baseline processing abilities to turn out to be a weapon on the subsequent stage,” Klassen wrote. “All he must do is lower out a few of the ‘doing an excessive amount of’ performs. Maye has the ability set to slot in any system and develop right into a star.”
Whereas buying and selling up could also be tough, Minnesota’s entrance workplace will seemingly be lively on the telephones up till the draft begins on April 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET.