B-
Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy is the Vikings' new face under center. Grade: B-.
by TCSmith ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 18 picks
· 3 steals
· 7 reaches
The search is over. The Vikings handed the keys to J.J. McCarthy, and the whole operation now runs on his development.
They are betting Allen proves the room right and everyone else wrong. With safety unsolved, spending premium capital on S-EDGE is the choice that costs them. That safety hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but safety.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 30 they get a disruptive interior force, outstanding value to boot. A real need, handled.
In the 32nd pick they get a franchise quarterback, though they paid up to get him. The biggest hole, addressed.
A straight-up fair deal on Xavier Worthy at slot 42, value and slot in agreement. A need, and now a little less of one.
Chris Braswell at No. 62 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the edge rusher. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A slide stopped in pick 78, with Payton Wilson worth more than the price. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Khyree Jackson in pick No. 109 lands just on the right side of the ledger. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Justin Eboigbe in the Round 4 slot is exactly on the number, no argument either way. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A wild overpay on Braelon Allen in the 122nd overall pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Drake Nugent at No. 130 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They bypassed pressing needs at safety to take Jalyx Hunt, a S-EDGE that was not the priority.
They paid up for Javion Cohen at pick 138 when waiting would have done the job. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Jaylen Wright in the 145th pick is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They did well to land Nehemiah Pritchett in pick No. 146, just ahead of his grade. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
They paid a round early for Layden Robinson in Round 5, Pick 22, more than the board wanted. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Javon Baker in the 166th overall pick is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Nathan Thomas at the Round 6 slot is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They let Erick All come to them and pounced at No. 227. The roster fit checks out.
Steele Chambers in the Round 7 slot is fair value, right on his grade. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.