2024 NFL Draft Buzz: As Jayden Daniels Sidesteps and J.J McCarthy Remains Indifferent, Vikings’ Quarterback Quest Ends With Michael Penix Jr.

The Minnesota Vikings are doing their best to lock an elite QB by meeting with all the potential first-round QB prospects. They lost their starter Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, while Sam Darnold signed to a one-year deal. Rumors have it that the Vikings might use their two first-round picks (11, 23) to trade up to draft their potential future QB early. 

There’s a chance that Minnesota could trade up into the top-five draft picks to land one of the top QBs like Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy. According to The Athletic’s Feldman’s mock draft, the Vikings trade with the Arizona Cardinals who hold the No. 4 pick to take McCarthy. But given the situation with Daniels and McCarthy, would the Vikings settle for Michael Penix Jr. after all?

Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy don’t feel the same as the Vikings

According to a recent report on X, it looks like LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels would rather sidestep than meet or work out with the Vikings. The report indicated that Jayden Daniels’ camp doesn’t want to overload their QB who is most probably joining the Washington Commanders or the New England Patriots. It wrote, “We really don’t think New England is going to move off of No. 3 so why have him do all these meetings?”

Jayden Daniels is the projected No. 3 pick after Caleb Williams and Drake Maye and an interesting prospect for the Vikings. The 23-year-old admitted that he was impressed with Vikings HC Kevin O’ Connell but has since remained unavailable for meetings with the Minnesota officials. But another prospect is JJ McCarthy. As reported by Bruce Feldman, the Vikings are “very interested” in picking him. Even so, the Michigan signal-caller has remained indifferent to the situation. And so, this leaves the Vikings another luring prospect in Michael Penix Jr. 

Will the Vikings draft Michael Penix Jr. after all?

The Vikings reportedly flew the entire staff to Seattle to meet Michael Penix Jr. for the private workout after Washington’s pro day. The hype around him is that the Huskies play-maker is the next best choice they have if they fail to trade up to land their prospective QBs. While he isn’t a potential top-10 pick, the Heisman Trophy finalist still has a lot of hype built around him. 

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According to the statement by Purple insider Matthew Coller to Bring Me The Sports, “If the Vikings can’t trade up and miss out on the top four, Penix Jr. is a heck of a consolation prize. He has a ridiculous arm and led college football in passing. He took his team to a place they rarely go in the national championship and he’s a natural born leader.” Penix Jr. led his team to a National Championship appearance and finished the season with 4,903 yards, 36 TDs, and 11 interceptions. 

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Do you think Penix Jr can be an exciting addition to the Vikings’ lineup? Let us know in the comments below!