The Vikings have reportedly flown all over the country to hold private workouts with quarterback prospects Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix, but what about Jayden Daniels?
Unless the Vikings are Daniels’ camp are keeping something secret, no such private workout has occurred. Could that change in the next two weeks before the first round of the NFL Draft? It sounds like it might…
“Jayden Daniels has all sorts of interest in being a Viking. The Vikings haven’t been able to connect with him yet. That’s still a work in progress, could still happen. There’s nothing set in stone, at least of last night,” Minnesota sports insider Darren Wolfson said Tuesday on SKOR North’s Mackey & Judd. “The two sides, there’s still some dialogue there. It’s still possible. I don’t know how likely it is, but it’s still possible that Kevin O’Connell will connect with Jayden somewhere along the way here in the next 14-ish days.”
Daniels is projected by most to be a top-three pick in the draft. Quarterback Caleb Williams appears to be the likely No. 1 overall pick to the Bears, followed by the Commanders at No. 2 or Patriots at No. 3 selecting Daniels.
Minnesota would likely have to trade into the top five to have any shot at Daniels. With picks 11 and 23 this year, the Vikings have the ammo to at least start a conversation about trading up, but will they go as far as the Patriots and Cardinals, who own No. 4 pick, reportedly demand?
Armando Salguero of OutKick is reporting that Arizona wants three first-round picks to move down from No. 4 and that if they don’t get their wish they’ll stay put and hope to draft wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
A report Monday out of Boston suggested that the Patriots need three first-round picks just to get a trade conversation started. Are the Vikings willing to give up both first-round picks this year and their 2025 first for the third or fourth pick?
What about trading with the Chargers at No. 5? Could the Vikings get the fifth pick for just 11 and 23? Maybe that’s the plan but only if the draft board falls how they want it to on draft night.
Whether Minnesota prefers Daniels, Maye, McCarthy, Penix or Nix, it doesn’t change the fact that, at least according to Wolfson, Daniels would love to play for the Vikings.
“Make no mistake, Jayden Daniels would love to be a Viking. That is my understanding,” Wolfson said.
