EAGAN, Minn. -- The 2024 NFL draft (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) began Thursday night in Detroit and will wrap up on Saturday.
ESPN will provide pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Minnesota Vikings' selections as they are made.
A look at each of Minnesota's scheduled selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 10 overall (from New York Jets): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
My take: The Vikings had no Plan B in the first round. They knew they had to come away with a quarterback after letting Kirk Cousins depart via free agency. They set their initial sites on North Carolina's Drake Maye, who went to the Patriots at No. 3, before moving up one spot to No. 10 to make McCarthy the fifth quarterback taken in the draft. While McCarthy was not their first choice to succeed Cousins, the Vikings will put him into the best environment for success among any of the 2024 first-round quarterback class. He'll sit behind Sam Darnold, at least initially, while coach Kevin O'Connell applies his considerable quarterback development skills. McCarthy will also be in good hands with new quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. And when he does get on the field, McCarthy will have a terrific array of skill players around him, from wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to running back Aaron Jones and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Key stat: McCarthy didn't throw much during Michigan's journey to the national championship last season, averaging just 22.1 attempts per game -- No. 94 among FBS quarterbacks. But there is plenty to be gleaned from when he did throw. He completed 67.9% of his passes when pressured in 2023, the best among FBS quarterbacks, and his QBR of 52 when pressured ranked No. 8 in the FBS. Meanwhile, he threw interceptions on only 1.2% of his passes, eighth lowest in FBS, and was exceptional on the kind of intermediate-range throws the Vikings favor in their offense. His QBR of 98 on passes of 10-plus air yards last season was second in in the FBS.
What we're hearing about McCarthy: "Emotional intelligence is his super power. I think it's well documented -- meditation -- all the things he does. He uses that superpower to create really lasting bonds. When you watch him around his teammates, I would just describe it as a love, in passing you see it." -- General manager Kwesi-Adofo Mensah
Round 1, No. 17 (from Jacksonville): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
My take: The Vikings benefitted from the early run on quarterbacks, and the record number of 23 offensive players taken in the first round, to get one of the best defensive players in this draft. Turner will further revamp a Vikings defense that bid farewell to four starters during the spring and signed three others. While versatility is important in defensive coordinator Brian Flores' scheme, Turner said that the team's initial ask of him will be simple: "Start rushing the passer as soon as I get off the plane."
Key stat: At 247 pounds, Turner was the only front-seven defensive player at the NFL combine this year who ran the 40 in under 4.5. seconds (4.46) and had a vertical jump of 40 inches or better (40.5). In other words, he has the size and physical skills to play all over the field in Flores' scheme. While they'll certainly want him to focus on pass rushing at the start, it'll be fascinating to see how else Flores might eventually deploy him.
Will he start as a rookie: The Vikings are going to get Turner starting-level playing time, even if he isn't necessarily on the field for the first play of a particular game. It's not hard to project him opposite of Greenard on a majority of snaps, with Andrew Van Ginkel moving around to different positions. Turner projects as too good of a pass-rusher, and has too much speed, for him to be a part-time player for very long.
Round 4, No. 108: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
My take: The Vikings addressed the cornerback position after focusing on their front-seven during free agency. Jackson will be 25 when the season begins, but the team loved his height (nearly 6-foot-4), length (32 3/4 arm length) and instincts. The temptation is to consider him a multi-positional hybrid player at that size, but senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson said: "We think he can be a hell of an outside corner." Jackson joins veteran Shaquill Griffin as the top two newcomers at the position.
Round 6, No. 177 (from Carolina through Jacksonville): Walter Rouse, OT, Oklahoma
My take: Rouse has extensive experience at left tackle, having started 52 games there during his college career at both Oklahoma and Stanford. He also showcased versatility at right tackle in the East-West Shrine Bowl, and that makes him a potentially valuable swing backup considering left tackle Christian Darrisaw has missed games for injuries in each of his three NFL seasons. Veteran David Quessenberry also re-signed after a year as the team's swing tackle.
Round 6, No. 203: Will Reichard, PK, Alabama
My take: Reichard has the inside track on replacing incumbent kicker Greg Joseph, who signed with the Packers as a free agent. O'Connell has said there will be a competition during training camp, and former XFL kicker John Parker Romo is already on the roster. But the Vikings were enamored with Reichard's field goal accuracy (6-for-7) in the pressure situations he faced in Alabama's playoff runs and believe he improved his kickoffs between 2022 and 2023 as well.
Round 7, No. 230 (from Atlanta via Cleveland and Arizona): Michael Jurgens, C/G, Wake Forest
My take: Jurgens was not invited to the combine or any all-star games, but senior vice president of personnel Ryan Grigson said the Vikings have been tracking him for several seasons. He was primarily a center but moved to guard during his final season at Wake Forest, proving to be "very productive," Grigson said. Proving that positional flexibility will be key for making the roster. The Vikings appear to be headed for a transition at left guard, where Blake Brandel -- a backup over the past few seasons -- is the favorite to start.
Round 7, No. 232 (from Denver via San Francisco and Houston): Levi Drake-Rodriguez, DT, Texas A&M-Commerce
My take: Drake-Rodriguez came a long way to get drafted, something the Vikings considered heavily in their evaluation. He began his career playing football and baseball at Southwest Assemblies of God University, an NAIA school, and worked his way up. The Vikings loved his attitude during a visit and know "he doesn't take anything for granted" and "plays like a crazy man," according to senior vice president of personnel Ryan Grigson.