Vikings draft recap: Kwesi cooked

I'm not saying this year's draft was a big one for the Vikings, but it was big enough for me.to finally go to a draft party. I wanted to be amongst the masses when we most likely made a huge decision that may shape this franchise for years to come.

This was going to be a QB. We all knew it. Kirk Cousins is a Falcon now. We signed Sam Darnold, and I don't 100% dismiss the idea that KOC could unlock his full potential that crappy franchises in New York and Carolina couldn't, but come on. 

So which QB? Well, we know it wouldn't be Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels. Beyond that, there were rumors and reports and other assorted bullshit for weeks that had the Vikings trading up, maybe as high as pick 3 to get a QB. At that spot, it would be Drake Maye. But maybe you wouldn't have to trade up as high to get JJ McCarthy. And you could probably just stand pat and have Michael Penix and.Bo Nix available.

I was staunchly opposed to an expensive trade up. Fact is nobody knows which of these guys will pan out as pros. Why surrender major draft capitol, especially future.#1 picks, to get a guy who easily might be worse than the guys available without a trade?

The draft went chalk early. Williams to the Bears. Daniels to Washington. Maye to New England. Picks continued. No trades. 

Then the Giants picked at 6. I have heard important touchdowns in person at US Bank Stadium that did not receive the kind of joyous reception that came with the Giants opting to pick a receiver instead of a QB. 

That could be the last obstacle to getting a QB at 11.

Then a curveball came from the dopey Falcons. Despite just signing Kirk for $100 million guaranteed and barring.injury locking him in as starting QB for at least 2 years, they stunned everyone by drafting Penix. For some reason, the KCDS crowd used this to dunk on Kirk.

Once pick 10 arrived, only the Jets stood between us and JJ McCarthy. But Kwesi didn't risk another team jumping them, tossing the Jets a couple of mid round picks to move up a spot. 

And the pick came: JJ McCarthy. The Vikings now have a QB born in 2003. Holy fuck am I old. 

Best news was that the Vikings still had pick 23 too. I left the draft party, cause for one I was tired and two that pick was a long way off. And what if I wait around and they trade down? They certainly couldn't trade up again.

I was barely out of the building before they traded up again. With Jacksonville, up to pick 17, unloading a few more mid round picks.

Weirdly the draft had offensive players go with each of the first 14 picks, so some prime defensive prospects remained. And Kwesi grabbed one, with Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.

Just like that, Kwesi drafted a potential franchise QB replacement for Kirk, and blue chip talent replacement for Danielle Hunter. And he didn't even have to surrender next year's #1 to do it. Kwesi cooked!

Day 2 of the draft was boring cause we had no picks.

But I think Kwesi made good use of the day 3 picks. In the 4th he got Khyree Jackson, another corner for Brian Flores to tinker with. 

In the 6th he got Walter Rouse, a tackle, and possible backup.

Later in the 6th he somewhat controversially grabbed Will Reichard, a kicker from Alabama, and the NCAA all time leading scorer. Now, I'm perfectly fine with this. If Reichard is good, he will be more valuable that almost any other 6th round pick this or any other year. Don't be afraid. 

Then in round 7 he finished up by taking C Michael Jergens and DL Levi Drake Rodriguez.

Obviously the draft class was smaller than usual so we didn't hit on a couple positions, notably WR, but I think this was an excellent draft.

Obviously the ultimate verdict will rest on the 1at rounders particularly McCarthy. A record 6 QBs went in the top 12, and history shows that they ain't all gonna be winners. It's probably a lock that at least 2 of them will be complete busts, and they won't simply be as good as the order they were taken. 

JJ McCarthy COULD be a bust. That possibility does need to be acknowledged. His detractors will point to his playing in a more run-heavy offense at Michigan, where he didn't throw as much as these other guys. And no, QB wins aren't a thing so you can't come back and just say he won a championship. Many QBs win college titles and flop in the pros. 

But if McCarthy CAN succeed, he will succeed here. KOC knows what he wants. He made Kirk his best self, and you know, at least Dobbs and Mullens had moments. Now, JJ is a kid and may not be ready to go right away, and when he is there will be growing pains (Vikings fans are not prepared.to deal with either scenario), but until I see proof otherwise I will trust this coaching staff and surrounding talent to extract the most out of him.

Even after this, it does feel like the Vikings may be stuck in more of a rebuilding year in 2024, but with a great outlook beyond that. 

Go ahead and dream. What if we did just get an excellent starting QB for the next decade-plus and a stud pass rusher? Just have patience. Kwesi is cooking us up a longterm contender.