Mel Kiper takes issue with Minnesota Vikings draft class: 'Not set up well for next year'
Three teams had multiple selections in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with one of them being the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterback JJ McCarthy and EDGE Dallas Turner wound up being the picks, giving the Vikings two quality players and two key positions. Even so, ESPN’s Mel Kiper was not a fan of the team’s overall haul, grading Minnesota’s draft a C+.
Reason being — Kiper does not believe the Vikings set themselves up well to perform next season. He does think trading up to select McCarthy at No. 10 overall was a bit of a stretch. Still grading him as a first-round pick, Minnesota did give up some assets to go get the Michigan product.
“They’re not set up well for next year,” Kiper said. “That’s the main thing with three picks. Look at JJ McCarthy, a little high for me. No. 15 on the board, you take him at 10. I love Dallas Turner where they got him but after that, I think it all revolves around JJ McCarthy. If he’s as good as some think he can become, I get it. But they gave up a lot to get the players they were able to require.”
Minnesota was always going to take a quarterback in this year’s draft. Kirk Cousins elected for free agency and eventually landed with the Atlanta Falcons. Sam Darnold is likely the only other QB with the caliber of being a starter heading into 2024 but you have to imagine McCarthy will get a real shot in training camp.
A ton of talent will be surrounding whoever does wind up winning the job. However, McCarthy is undoubtedly the future, maybe less than the present. C+ is Kiper’s grade on Minnesota’s draft right now and the results will reveal themselves in a few years.
“McCarthy is the critical part of this,” Kiper said. “They have everything around the quarterback, there are no excuses here… What does he become? That’s what it’s all about. In three years, where is JJ? Where is this team?”
Minnesota finished third in the NFC North last season with a 7-10 record. They’ve missed the playoffs in three out of the last four seasons and do not have a postseason win since the Minneapolis Miracle in 2019.
Kiper does not seem to be a firm believer in the Vikings getting back into the playoffs based on his analysis of the franchise’s draft haul from the weekend.