The Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans executed an unexpected trade on Friday morning that altered the landscape of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Vikings acquired the No. 23 overall selection and a seventh-rounder from the Texans in exchange for pics No. 44 and 188, and a 2025 second-round pick. The Vikings now possess the ammunition required to trade-up for a quarterback.
The Vikings became obvious contenders to draft a quarterback of the future after Kirk Cousins departed the franchise in free agency. With no long-term plan at the position in place, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is positioning himself to make a play for Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, or Jayden Daniels, with McCarthy qualifying as the most realistic target. The Los Angeles Chargers project as the ideal trade partner for Minnesota.
Assuming quarterbacks come off the board with the first three picks and the Arizona Cardinals select Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth selection, Minnesota should set eyes on the Chargers’ fifth overall pick to execute their move up for a franchise quarterback. Pairing the 11th and 23rd selections may be enough to acquire a top-five spot from the Chargers according to historically accurate draft trade charts. Let's examine which prospect(s) each team may target from there on out:
VIKINGS
It would obviously be a quarterback. The Vikings temporarily replaced Cousins by signing veteran journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold to a one-year contract worth up to $10 million. That's a bridge-type contract that's simply serving as a placeholder for a rookie signal caller.
The Chicago Bears are positioned to select Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall selection. The Washington Commanders and New England Patriots are expected to follow suit with quarterbacks. Maye and Daniels are favorites to be drafted ahead of McCarthy. That's when the Vikings swoop in.
McCarthy is well-liked in NFL circles. He operated a pro-style offense at a Michigan program that went 18-0 over the previous two campaigns, the latter of which culminated in a National Championship. Offensive-minded head coach Kevin O'Connell would appreciate the experience McCarthy brings with him to Minnesota. If for whatever reason the Vikings felt like he wasn't ready to start right away, Darnold gives them an option until McCarthy could be comfortably eased into the lineup.
CHARGERS
Sorting through the Chargers' draft plan became a bit more complicated this week. Difficulties against the salary cap forced them to trade superstar receiver Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears. They also released fellow wideout Mike Williams in another cap-clearing move. Pass rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa restructured their contracts, and appear to have been preferred over Allen and Williams.
The Chargers now have a massive need at receiver. Last year's first-round pick Quentin Johnston is currently positioned as the WR1 after experiencing a lackluster rookie campaign. Josh Palmer is the only wideout on the roster with a lick of proven production under his belt.
That would make the Chargers obvious candidates to target Washington's Rome Odunze or LSU's Malik Nabers with the No. 5 selection, but a trade-down with the Vikings in exchange for picks five and 11 could be more tempting. I'm feeling bold enough to predict the Chargers wouldn't target a receiver at 11.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Horitz could instead target an offensive tackle with the 11th selection. Franchise quarterback Justin Herbert was limited to a career-low 13 games in 2023 after suffering a season-ending finger injury. As much as a receiver is required, so is ensuring Herbert has the protection necessary to meet his performance ceiling.
Right tackle is a weakness with Trey Pipkins III serving as last year's starter. It's a deep offensive tackle class and the Chargers could target someone like JC Latham, Olu Fashanu, or Taliese Fuaga at No. 11. Doing so would likely cost the Chargers an opportunity to draft Nabers or Odunze, but a deep receiver class could see them address the need later at 23.
Adonai Mitchell and Brian Thomas Jr. both project as No. 1 go-to options in the passing game at the next level. Thomas Jr. and Mitchell are big-bodied vertical playmakers who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 and 4.34 seconds respectively at the NFL Combine. There's no denying the Chargers' need at receiver following the exits of Allen and Williams, but if they acquire the two picks from Minnesota, I believe they'll fancy the offensive linemen at 11 and receivers at 23.
CONCLUSION
The Vikings began laying down the appropriate building blocks for their inevitable trade-up for a quarterback by acquiring a second first-round selection on Friday morning. The Chargers qualify as ideal trade-down partners. This scenario could occur as played out above.
