Vikings' meeting with top QB hints at willingness to make aggressive NFL Draft move

According to Tankathon's projections, the Washington Commanders will take Daniels with the second overall pick, but if they pass on the 2023 Heisman winner, keep an eye on Minnesota. 

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah recently hinted they're considering moving up in the draft, saying, "Just because something is risky doesn't mean you have to stay away from it."

ESPN's Mike Reiss noted the New England Patriots could be willing to trade the third overall pick for an enticing offer. The Vikings have the 11th and 23rd overall pick, meaning they have the draft capital to make a potential deal. The Patriots may want more, though.

"And if I need a quarterback, too, as New England does, then the deal better be pretty rich for me to pass up one of these quarterbacks and move down," former Minnesota GM and CBS Sports analyst Rick Speilman told Reiss. "[The Vikings] would have to pay above a premium."

Speilman believes the Vikings would also need to throw in a 2025 first-rounder and future second-rounder "as a starting point."

While a potential trade is costly, the Vikings must replace four-time Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180M deal with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. Minnesota signed former first-rounder Sam Darnold (one year, $10M), but he's likely not the answer.

Daniels, 23, could be worth the high asking price. In 12 games in 2023, he posted the FBS' best QBR (95.6) and threw 40 touchdowns. ESPN's Field Yates recently rated him as the second-best prospect in the class behind Southern Cal QB Caleb Williams.