Analysts address Vikings vs. Giants draft battle for QB

NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates of ESPN are among those who believe the Minnesota Vikings and not the New York Giants will trade up in the 2024 draft order with a quarterback in mind. 

In a mock draft that featured Kiper making odd-numbered picks and was published on Monday, he predicted that the Vikings will send overall selections No. 11 and No. 23 this year along with a 2025 first-round choice to the Los Angeles Chargers to move up to pick No. 5. From there, Kiper forecasted that Minnesota will use the fifth selection to grab Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy.  

"The Vikings are going to have to move up if they want to guarantee getting the fourth quarterback off the board," Kiper explained. "...Giving up that 2025 pick is going to hurt for Minnesota, but it would be worth it if the organization feels McCarthy can be the guy. There's some risk involved -- McCarthy was never asked to carry the load with his arm in college -- but his physical tools are appealing."

Since this past winter, both the Vikings and Giants have been linked with potential trades up to either pick No. 4 or No. 5 this year. However, some now believe (and fear) that those within the Giants are hoping McCarthy falls to them at the sixth selection. 

Others think New York could take a non-quarterback at No. 6 and then trade back into the first round or up in the second to acquire either Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon Ducks signal-caller Bo Nix.

Kiper and Yates had USC Trojans star Caleb Williams, LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye of the North Carolina Tar Heels as the draft's first three picks. 

The Vikings lost Kirk Cousins when he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency last month, and Minnesota currently has veteran Sam Darnold atop the depth chart. Meanwhile, the Giants reportedly are willing to move on from 2023 Week 1 starter Daniel Jones as soon as next offseason.

"A trade up was contemplated, but a prohibitive price made such a move less appealing," Yates said about predicting that the Giants will stay at No. 6 and spend that asset to take LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. 

The Giants have been without a true No. 1 WR since they traded Odell Beckham Jr. following the 2018 season.