Daniel Jeremiah unsure Vikings have 'ammunition' to trade up draft
Daniel Jeremiah is one of the most respected mock drafters in the business and on Tuesday he unveiled his second go at predicting the first-round picks in the April 25 NFL Draft.
Jeremiah notes that he doesn't mock any trades until his final mock closer to the actual draft, which is a massive game-changer considering picks will undoubtedly be moved as teams look to rise and fall in the order based on team needs and windows to win.
With that note in mind, Jeremiah predicts Caleb Williams and Drake Maye to go 1-2 to the Bears and Commanders, respectively, with Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy going sixth and eighth overall to the Giants and Falcons, respectively. That's four quarterbacks off the board in the first eight picks.
What could that mean for the Vikings at No. 11? Not in a very good position to take a quarterback as Jeremiah has Minnesota taking Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.
"I wouldn’t rule out the Vikings drafting a quarterback early, but I’m not sure they’ll have the ammunition to trade up for one," Jeremiah wrote. "With Danielle Hunter heading for free agency, they address the need for pass-rush help."
In other words, Jeremiah thinks there will be a fast and furious run on quarterbacks in the top 10, which could leave Minnesota on the outside looking in.
Turner would be a bit of a steal at No. 11. NFL Mock Draft Database, which takes the average draft position from dozens of mocks, notes that Turner is usually predicted to go eighth or ninth.
Dallas Turner's average draft position based on a collection of mock drafts.
Turner totaled 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in 14 games with Alabama in 2023, earning him First-Team All-American and All-SEC honors. He's a talented edge rusher who, like Jeremiah says, could numb the sting the Vikings will feel if Hunter signs elsewhere as a free agent.
Nov 4, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) escapes the pass rush of Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner (15) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 42-28.
Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
