Growing 2024 NFL Draft buzz tying Minnesota Vikings to Bo Nix in first round

The Minnesota Vikings have been heavily tied to quarterback prospects Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. With decision day fast approaching, it now appears Oregon Ducks star Bo Nix is also in the mix in the first round.

It’s been suggested for weeks in a variety of NFL rumors that Minnesota will either trade up for McCarthy or Maye. The New England Patriots have been viewed as a bit of a pivot point for the Vikings, as Maye and McCarthy are both under consideration in Foxborough.

• Bo Nix stats (ESPN): 77.4% completion rate, 4,508 passing yards, 45-3 TD-INT, 234 rushing yards, 6 TDs

However, with the Patriots’ asking price for the third overall pick high and the Arizona Cardinals open to drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. instead of trading down, there might be another quarterback option in Minnesota.

Remember that in February after the Senior Bowl, Alec Lewis of The Athletic had Minnesota trading up to the 30th overall pick to draft Nix. More recently, the Vikings were listed by oddsmakers as the fourth-likeliest team to take Nix in the first round. Now, one of the league’s top insiders is adding more fuel to the connection.

In his first 2024 NFL mock draft, NFL.com’s Peter Schrager has the Vikings taking Nix with the 23rd overall pick. He also notes the former Ducks’ quarterback could go as high as No. 11 overall and explains why Nix is a gift for Kevin O’Connell.

“One thing on Nix: He’s as accurate as they come, having just set the FBS record this past season with a completion percentage of 77.45. Smart processor, too. These are things that will be very highly valued by offensive coaches and QB gurus. That’s Kevin O’Connell. That’s Sean Payton. I could see Nix playing for either of those men.”

Peter Schrager in his 2024 NFL mock draft on Bo Nix to the Minnesota Vikings

It’s critical to note that Schrager is one of the most plugged-in reports in the NFL. He also bases his mock draft on conversations with general managers and head coaches, waiting until a week before the NFL Draft to release it.

Examining QB prospect Bo Nix

Nix is an accurate quarterback, but NFL teams had some concerns with him entering the pre-draft process. Because of Oregon’s scheme, 28.1 percent of Nix’s pass attempts last season went behind the line of scrimmage, per Pro Football Focus. For context, Caleb Williams was at 21.8 percent, while McCarthy (12.3 percent) and Jayden Daniels (13.3 percent) were much lower. So, teams wonder how accurate Nix will be in a more pro-style offense with tighter windows and fewer pass attempts behind the line of scrimmage.

Bo Nix stats – Advanced statistics in key situations