The Minnesota Vikings will be on the clock in three days. We don’t know when, or for how long, but at some point on Thursday, Roger Goodell is going to walk to the podium in Detroit, MI with a new Vikings QB in his hand. Is that card going to have Jayden Daniels (LSU), Drake Maye (UNC) or JJ McCarthy’s (Michigan) name on it? Maybe even Bo Nix? We may not know that answer until the pick is called.
But before Roger hits the podium, holding a player card, he’s more than likely going to walk up with a Vikings trade card instead. One that announces a move up by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Which other team will be on that card? That’s another question we can’t answer.
Well, there’s been quite a lot of chatter coming out the most trusted insider NFL circles recently that head coach Kevin O’Connell’s top choice Thursday night is Drake Maye. That’s what we heard yesterday from Boston insider Ben Volin, who believes the Vikings feel better about Maye than the New England Patriots do.
Adam Schefter throws gas on Minnesota Vikings + Drake Maye fire
Then on Monday morning, Adam Schefter (ESPN) threw more gas onto the blazing Maye + Vikings fire by confirming that he’s hearing the same thing as Volin. That general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could trade up as high as No. 3, if the Pats are willing to play ball, and that their top choice is indeed the North Carolina kid.
Schefty also confirms reports that the Vikings would like to move up before the draft, if they can find a partner willing to do so.
The Patriots, slated to pick No. 3, also have been fielding calls from teams. It would take a big offer for New England to move off that spot knowing it needs to come out of Round 1 with a quarterback, but the team has listened. And the Vikings, among others, have attempted to move up.
Some around the league believe if the Vikings can get as high as No. 3, their preference would be quarterback Drake Maye (North Carolina), who was coached in high school by Minnesota’s new quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. But many are waiting to see how the Patriots value Maye vs. J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)…
Adam Schefter – ESPN+
Anything can happen on NFL Draft night
More than likely, it’ll be the New England Patriots (No. 3), Arizona Cardinals (No. 4) or Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5). In a perfect world, though, a QB that head coach Kevin O’Connell loves will fall down the board a few more spots, so Kwesi can save a first round pick (or two), in a trade up with the Tennessee Titans (No. 7) or Atlanta Falcons (No. 8).
But if the Drake Maye steam is true, they’ll have to jump up into the top-5 to get their guy. But top-5 doesn’t guarantee them anything, and certainly not Maye. To do that, they’d probably have move into the top-3, at least, but possibly top-2, depending on who the Washington Commanders like between Maye and Jayden Daniels.
More than likely, though, the Vikings won’t be willing to pay what it will take to move up that high, especially if reports on the Patriots STEEP demands are true (THREE to FOUR 1st-round picks).
No doubt, though, unless all of the recent Maye + Vikings talk is just a smokescreen, it’s becoming pretty clear that the Minnesota Vikings’ top choice on Thursday is Drake Maye. We’ll see if they get a chance to prove that come Thursday night.
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