B+
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings worked the phones like thieves and earned a B+.
by kgrundseth ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 1 steals
· 2 reaches
The tape said wait; the Vikings did not. Zakhari Franklin went at No. 166, a good 57 picks before the board was ready. More right than wrong, and a B+ to match.
They won the margins on every swap, and it adds up fast. The McKinstry steal is the beam this whole class leans on. They will regret leaving safety for another day if the season turns on it.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the safety spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 12 they get a double-digit-sack hope. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
A cornerback of that caliber at the 42nd overall pick is the definition of value, full stop. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
A tidy little value on Michael Pratt in No. 108, a step better than break-even. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Cedric Gray in pick No. 130 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A minor itch, scratched.
Jaylen Wright at pick 148 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It fills a real need, too.
LaDarius Henderson in slot 160 is fair value, right on his grade. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Zakhari Franklin well ahead of where he belonged. The roster fit checks out.
No edge and no loss on Aki Ogunbiyi in slot 179; it is a wash and a sensible one. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They paid a round early for Zion Logue in Round 7, Pick 10, more than the board wanted. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.