The 2024 NFL Draft will be plenty with trades, especially given how stacked the quarterback talent is.
USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and UNC’s Drake Maye are likely to be the first three picks. This would probably be with the Chicago Bears picking Williams with the first overall choice, the Washington Commanders taking Jayden Daniels at second overall, and the New England Patriots taking Drake Maye at third overall.
Many mock drafts have switched Maye and Daniels’ positions between the Commanders and Patriots, but the expectation is that these three quarterbacks will be taken in the first three rounds.
This leaves the Arizona Cardinals with the fourth overall pick, but many quarterback-hungry teams, like the Minnesota Vikings, are still looking to move up. The Cardinals have been linked to Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. at #4 overall, and the latest statements from the team’s GM could result in a big NFL Draft shakeup.
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort told NFL.com’s Grant Gordon that the organization would be “open” to hearing proposals to trade out of the #4 overall pick.
“There will be a big neon sign that says ‘open,’ and I don’t like it blinking because it messes with my eyes, but we’re always going to be listening,” Ossenfort joked Wednesday during a news conference with head coach Jonathan Gannon. “I think we’ll always have the conversation, we may not get to a point where a deal makes sense, whether it’s at [No.] 4 or anywhere we’re picking, but we’re always going to have the conversation and if it makes sense, if it’s attractive to building our team, then it’s something that we’ll certainly consider no matter where we’re at in the draft.”
The Cardinals’ willingness to trade out of the #4 overall choice might spark a frenzy among clubs looking to trade up for their own franchise quarterback. As previously said, the Vikings have been linked to moving up, particularly after completing a deal with the Houston Texans.
The Vikings currently have the #11 and #23 overall picks after trading the Texans two second-round picks and the #188 overall pick.
It’s possible that the Vikings will climb into the top five by a trade with either the Los Angeles Chargers (#5 overall pick) or the Cardinals, who are considering trading down from #4.
The Cardinals’ willingness to trade out of #4 might substantially benefit the Chargers, as Harrison Jr. is the most sought-after receiver in the draft and could easily fall to Los Angeles.
The Vikings are also looking to sign their next franchise quarterback, who might be Oregon’s Bo Nix or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. However, the Vikings are not the only team looking for a new quarterback.
Mock drafts have been all over the place, with the Vikings landing two first-round picks. The Cardinals’ general manager also publicly stated that the team will consider offers to trade down, making projecting the 2024 NFL Draft even more difficult.
Leave a Reply