The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for the 2024 NFL Draft, and the spotlight shines brightly on their quarterback pursuit. Their starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, tore his Achilles tendon last season and is now a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell recently shared insights into his approach to drafting quarterbacks during a talk at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church. He acknowledged his reputation as a “quarterback killer” while discussing the importance of a rigorous evaluation process.
“For a couple years, I’ve been kind of known as the quarterback killer when it comes to the draft in Eagan. Because the feeling that I feel from our fanbase is when we get this next guy, he’s gonna be ‘the guy.’ And I feel it. I know you guys all feel it,” O’Connell said.
O’Connell revealed his careful evaluation process by highlighting the balance between fixable flaws and inherent qualities.
The Vikings HC also stressed the importance of tangible principles in quarterback play. His remarks shed light on the complexity of scouting and drafting quarterbacks, where potential must be weighed against practicality.
Meanwhile, the Patriots rumored decision to draft either Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy is hitting the headlines.
Kevin O’Connell responds to Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy as potential draft prospects
Kevin O’Connell also found himself fielding questions about potential quarterback prospects Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy. He provided insight into the qualities each player brings to the table.
“When you’re comparing Drake Maye to J.J., and when you can see J.J. operating in the Harbaugh system and he’s got really good feet. but then Drake Maye, the arm talent and the throws and the anticipating windows, how do you sort of compare that and be like, ‘You know what? Even though his feet aren’t exactly how we need them, he could be, say, like a Josh Allen or something?'”, he said per Pro Football Talk.
The Patriots hold the third overall pick in the draft, and the decision regarding their future signal-caller is of paramount importance. The team seems inclined to retain their pick and select a quarterback they can mold into a franchise cornerstone, despite potential trade offers.
Both Maye and McCarthy have captured the Patriots’ attention. McCarthy had dinner with the Patriots a week ago and was set for a formal pre-draft visit with them. Meanwhile, Maye also visited the team earlier, and has a good fit with the team’s offense.
However, recent speculation suggests that Maye may be the preferred choice for the Patriots. With his reputation as an elite deep-ball thrower, Maye’s skill set aligns closely with what Pats head coach Jerod Mayo seeks in his quarterback. While McCarthy offers his own strengths, Maye’s potential to excel in crucial areas of the game appears to have swayed the team’s decision-makers. Now, it remains to be seen who the team ultimately picks in the draft.
