The Minnesota Vikings have shown significant interest in the quarterback prospects of the 2024 draft class, attending various pro days to gather information. However, their plans hit a snag when they scheduled a private meeting with LSU’s Jayden Daniels following his pro day, only for those plans to fall through, according to reports from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on March 27 and KTSP’s Darren Wolfson on March 28.
Wolfson suggested a potential scheduling conflict with Quarterbacks Coach Josh McCown may have been the reason for the change of plans. Despite this setback, LSU head coach Brian Kelly defended Daniels’ size, noting his commitment to taking care of himself, similar to successful quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, who have achieved success despite not being considered giants.
The closing line could indeed be interpreted as a head coach hyping his former player, highlighting Jayden Daniels’ impressive statistics and accomplishments at LSU, including winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the team to back-to-back winning seasons.
Despite this, the Minnesota Vikings, who have a strong connection to LSU through star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, could be disappointed if they miss out on drafting Daniels, as they are looking to address their long-term quarterback situation. ESPN’s Dan Graziano noted that pairing Daniels with Jefferson has appeal to some in the organization.
Jefferson, a four-time Pro Bowler, is nearing the end of his rookie contract, and the Vikings are interested in extending his deal, which could reset the market for his position. However, as they experienced with Kirk Cousins this offseason, securing a deal with Jefferson is what truly matters, as he expressed confidence in his abilities regardless of who is throwing him the ball.
