Inside The Vikings

Vikings Hosted Three of Draft's Top Defensive Players for Visits on Monday

The Vikings are doing due diligence on the top defensive prospects in the event that they don't trade up.
Will Ragatz|
Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner (15) celebrates after a
Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner (15) celebrates after a | John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

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Minnesota Vikings

While much of the Vikings' recent pre-draft attention has been devoted to deep dives on each of this year's top quarterback prospects, they're also doing their due diligence on several standout defensive players in the event that they can't execute a palatable trade up for a QB. They hosted three of the premier defensive prospects in this draft for official visits at TCO Performance Center on Monday: Texas DT Byron Murphy II, Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell, and Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner.

If the Vikings do move up into the top five for a quarterback like Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy, they obviously won't have a chance to land any of these defenders, who are all projected top-20 picks. They'd have to package their two first-rounders (Nos. 11 and 23 overall) and more to move up and secure the quarterback they desire. That approach remains likely, assuming the Vikings can find a trade partner in the top five who doesn't make them pay a ridiculous over-market price. Their mid-March move to acquire the Texans' first-round pick doesn't make much sense if it isn't followed by a big move up for a quarterback.

But that isn't the only possible scenario when April 25th rolls around. If all of the teams in the top five are asking for too much, maybe the Vikings will stay put at 11 and 23. And in that situation, they could potentially take a defensive stud at 11 and then grab Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix at 23 (or after navigating the board in either direction).

Each of Murphy, Mitchell, and Turner would make a ton of sense for the Vikings. Murphy would fill the biggest need as a dynamic defensive tackle who can generate interior pressure and complement the rest of Brian Flores' front. Mitchell, who the Vikings studied closely at the Senior Bowl, is in the mix to be CB1 in this class (along with Alabama's Terrion Arnold, Clemson's Nate Wiggins, and others). He could be a building block for the Vikings at cornerback while upgrading their man coverage abilities right away. Turner is generally viewed as EDGE1 this year, just ahead of FSU's Jared Verse and UCLA's Laiatu Latu. Adding him to an OLB room that already includes Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel would give Flores all kinds of juice off the edge.

Even though the quarterback decision in this draft is more important than anything else, it makes sense for the Vikings to keep all of their options open and get as much information on these top defensive prospects as they possibly can.

Tracking Vikings' Top 30 Visits With NFL Draft Prospects

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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