The Minnesota Vikings made two trades in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night. They moved up to the 10th spot to pick Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and then jumped to the 17th spot to select Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.
“We aimed to minimize any regrets,” said Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. “Sometimes, you have to step out of your comfort zone and take a bold approach to get a great player.”
The departure of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency opened up an opportunity that the Vikings had been planning for over two years.
“Every quarterback I talked to in the draft wanted to come to Minnesota,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy had an impressive record of 27 wins and 1 loss as a starter, even though his team focused more on defense and running the ball. Despite concerns about his size, McCarthy set a school record with a 72.3% completion rate.
Adofo-Mensah admitted that there was more uncertainty with McCarthy compared to other quarterbacks in the draft. During a recent video call, McCarthy directly asked Adofo-Mensah if there was any reason the Vikings wouldn’t draft him, to which Adofo-Mensah had no reservations.
After Caleb Williams was chosen by Chicago, Jayden Daniels went to Washington, and Drake Maye was picked by New England with the first three selections, the Falcons surprised everyone by selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, even with Cousins already on a massive contract.
This move put the Vikings at risk of being overtaken by teams like Denver or Las Vegas also in need of a quarterback. So, they traded with the New York Jets to make sure they got McCarthy. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell described feeling a mix of emotions as the draft unfolded.
“We knew we weren’t the only ones interested in him,” O’Connell said. “You start to wonder about the possibilities.”
The Vikings gave up their fourth- and fifth-round picks (No. 129 and 157) to the Jets for a sixth-rounder (No. 203) to finalize the deal.
“That’s where he wanted to be. That’s what he was hoping for. I’m just thrilled for him,” said Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who coached McCarthy and the Wolverines to the national championship last season.
“I care for him like a son. I was hoping and praying for things to work out the way he wanted, and they did.”
The Vikings had been planning for this moment since Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell joined two years ago, with a strong rookie quarterback class and the team facing a critical juncture after winning the NFC North title with a 13-4 record in their debut season in 2022 but slipping to 7-10 in 2023.
The highest the Vikings had previously drafted a quarterback was Daunte Culpepper at No. 11 in 1999.
They’ve only chosen a quarterback in the first round four other times in their 63-year history, with Teddy Bridgewater (No. 32) in 2014, Christian Ponder (No. 12) in 2011, and Tommy Kramer (No. 27) in 1977 being the other picks.
With O’Connell, a former NFL quarterback who led two of Cousins’ best seasons in his 12-year career, making the calls on the sideline and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson leading a talented offense, the Vikings have created a good environment for McCarthy, who is only 21 years old.
To ease the pressure on the rookie, they brought in Sam Darnold, the third overall pick in 2018 by the Jets.
McCarthy was considered the most NFL-ready of all the prospects because of his leadership, smarts, and toughness. However, success for first-round quarterbacks in the NFL is often uncertain.
The Vikings gained the 23rd pick in a trade with Houston for their second-round picks this year and next.
They don’t have any second-day picks, so their chance to add starting-quality players is limited, increasing the pressure to make a good pick in the first round. With the first 14 picks focusing on offense, the Vikings had the chance to choose a top defensive player.
When defenders started to get picked, the Vikings made a deal with Jacksonville. They traded their fifth-rounder (No. 167) and third- and fourth-round picks in 2025 to move up from No. 23.
Turner was a first-team Associated Press All-American and had 10 sacks last season, tying for eighth in the FBS.
After seeing Danielle Hunter, D.J. Wonnum, and Marcus Davenport leave in free agency, the Vikings brought in Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel before acquiring Turner to quickly replenish their roster.
Turner was the second edge rusher chosen. The Jaguars hinted they had an offer from another team for the 17th pick, prompting the Vikings to up their offer. However, they considered Turner as one of the few defensive standouts in this draft. Many experts thought he was one of the steals of the first round.
Turner admitted he was surprised to last until then, but given the 23 offensive players picked in the first round, he understood why.
“The game is changing,” he said. “Teams have specific needs, so you have to expect it.”
