Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft has come and gone, and the Minnesota Vikings walked away feeling good about themselves and the state of the team. They came into the draft with a couple of major issues, and they were able to address both of those issues.
The most obvious issue was the quarterback spot. The team let former starting quarterback Kirk Cousins go in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons. They signed former 49ers backup Sam Darnold in the off-season, but he was never going to be the long-term answer at the position. Everyone figured the Vikings were going to come away from the first round with a quarterback — and most believed they would have to trade up to get him.
Minnesota did wind up trading up, but only one spot, to grab former Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. The move allowed them to keep their second first-round pick to address the other glaring issue on the roster: the lack of an EDGE rusher after Danielle Hunter’s departure.
The Vikings traded up again to fill this hole, taking former Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner. These moves leave the Vikings without a second or third-round pick as of right now, but there’s still a long way to go before this draft is over, and who knows if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will find a way to grab a pick or two on Day 2. If he does, where might the Vikings go? Here are the top team needs remaining after the first day of the 2024 NFL Draft, and the top players available at those positions (per Mel Kiper).