In this Minnesota Vikings’ mock draft, the Vikes make a massive trade up the first round draft board to select their quarterback of the future. A report from Jaime Eisner of TDN indicates that the Vikings are interested in trading up to select a QB in 2023.
That makes sense for many reasons, one of which is Kirk Cousins turning 35 years old this August and being brought in by the previous regime.
General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is going to take a swing on a quarterback at some point during the beginning of his tenure. Honestly, he may be in a better position to do this next year. The 13-4 Vikings are picking 23rd overall. Their 2022 season was quite a shock. They had a negative point differential and won nearly every one of their close games.
It’s really not likely they recreate that type of success again in 2023, so I’d guess they might be picking in the mid to high teens in 2024, which could make moving up for a QB easier.
However, in this mock draft, they make a big move.
Minnesota Vikings’ Mock Draft: Will Levis is the future
23rd overall pick: Traded pick 23, 87, 2024 1st, 2024 2nd, and RB D. Cook to SEA for pick 5:
5th overall pick: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Let’s talk about this for a second. The Vikings were picking at 23 overall, but they managed to trade up a whopping 18 picks to select Will Levis to be their QB of the future. To do so, they gave up two picks this year: picks 23 and 87. They gave up their first and second round picks in 2024, and they included Dalvin Cook in the deal as well.
This was the trade proposal that I was able to get through in the PFN Mock Draft Simulator. The Seahawks get a ton back but do move down 18 picks in the first round.
119th overall pick: Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
The Vikings desperately need help at wide receiver, so they take the 6’2″ Hutchinson from Iowa State to hopefully help fill that need.
158th overall pick: Ronnie Hickman, S, Ohio State
The Minnesota Vikings also need help in the secondary, so say the least, so they take a stab at Ronnie Hickman at pick 158. With such little capital after trading up to five, they need to focus on their most urgent needs with their remaining picks.
211th overall pick: Atonio Mafi, OG, UCLA
The Vikings would benefit from adding to the depth on their interior offensive line, and with Will Levis taking over in 2024, giving him a solid offensive line is one of the best things the team could do for the young QB.