In the leadup to the 2024 NFL Draft, Vikings.com is taking a look at prospects who have garnered a range of attention from national outlets. The series will include rankings by those national outlets, stats and background information for multiple prospects.
Vikings status at quarterback
The Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal at the onset of 2024 free agency as six-year starter Kirk Cousins headed to the Falcons.
Darnold joined a room that already included returning veteran Nick Mullens and second-year pro Jaren Hall.
Mullens started three contests, and Hall started two, but he left the first because of an injury at Atlanta. Joshua Dobbs relieved Hall in that game and started four other contests. He signed with San Francisco, the team Darnold was with as a backup in 2023, in free agency.
Minnesota closed the 2023 season 3-6 after Cousins suffered a torn Achilles at Green Bay in Week 8.
Those factors, combined with Minnesota having the 11th and 23rd overall picks, have prompted many to believe the Vikings could target a quarterback with a first-round pick.
Expert rankings
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah currently has six quarterbacks in his Top 50: 1. Caleb Williams, 5. Drake Maye, 6. Jayden Daniels, 20. J.J. McCarthy, 29. Bo Nix and 33. Michael Penix, Jr.
ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., has four quarterbacks in his overall Top 25: 1. Williams, 2. Daniels, 6. Maye and 14. McCarthy.
Rankings for cornerbacks by Jeremiah, his NFL Media counterpart Bucky Brooks, Kiper, analytics site Pro Football Focus and The Athletic's Dane Brugler are listed below.
Prospects
Note: Heights and weights are from each player's profile on NFL.com (linked for each player's name).
School: USC (after Oklahoma) | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-1 | Wt: 214 pounds
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: QB1
Bucky Brooks: QB1
Mel Kiper, Jr.: QB1
Pro Football Focus: QB1
Dane Brugler: QB1
Stats/awards
2021 (Oklahoma): 11 games (7 starts); 136-of-211 passing (64.5 percent), 1,912 yards, 21 TDs, 4 INT; 79 rushes for 442 yards and 6 TDs; Freshman All-American
2022 (USC): 14 games (14 starts); 333-of-500 passing (66.6 percent), 4,537 yards, 42 TDs, 5 INT; 113 rushes for 382 yards and 10 TDs; Won Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell Award; Named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year
2023 (USC): 12 games (12 starts); 266-of-388 passing (68.6 percent), 3,633 yards, 30 TDs, 5 INT; 97 rushes for 142 yards and 11 TDs
College totals (Oklahoma and USC): 37 games (33 starts); 735-of-1,099 passing (66.9 percent), 10,082 yards, 93 TDs, 14 INT; 289 rushes for 966 yards and 27 TDs
3 notes
Record year: In 2022, Williams set school records for total offense (4,919 yards), rushing and passing touchdowns (52 total), completions (333), attempts (500), passing yards (4,537), TD passes (42) and interception rate (1.00 percent).
Former teammate: Vikings 2023 first-round pick Jordan Addison teamed with Williams at USC in 2022 when the receiver caught 59 passes for 875 yards and eight touchdowns for the Trojans.
Community focus: Williams created the Caleb Cares Foundation, which supports anti-bullying initiatives, mental health awareness and youth development.
School: North Carolina | Year: R-Soph. | Ht: 6-foot-4 | Wt: 223 pounds
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: QB2
Bucky Brooks: QB3
Mel Kiper, Jr.: QB3
Pro Football Focus: QB2
Dane Brugler: QB2
Stats/awards
2021: 4 games (0 starts); 7-of-10 passing (70 percent), 89 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 6 rushes for 62 yards; Redshirted
2022: 14 games (14 starts); 342-of-517 passing (66.2 percent), 4,321 yards, 38 TDs, 7 INT; 184 rushes for 698 yards and 7 TDs; ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year; Won Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award
2023: 12 games (12 starts); 269-of-425 passing (63.3 percent), 3,608 yards, 24 TDs, 9 INT; 112 rushes for 449 yards and 9 TDs
College totals: 30 games (26 starts); 618-of-952 passing (64.9 percent), 8,018 yards, 63 TDs, 16 INT; 302 rushes for 1,209 yards and 16 TDs; Second-Team All-ACC
3 notes
Combo platter: Maye became the second player in ACC history to win the four conference awards, joining Jameis Winston.
In company of others: In 2022, Maye became the sixth QB since 2010 to throw for at least 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns while rushing for at least 650 yards and seven scores. He joined Kyler Murray, Deshaun Watson, Marcus Mariota, Johnny Manziel and Robert Griffin III. All five previous QBs were first-round picks.
Coached by McCown: Maye played high school football at Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) and received coaching from new Vikings quarterbacks coach/former NFL QB Josh McCown, whose sons Owen and Aiden played for the team.
School: LSU (after Arizona State) | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-4 | Wt: 210 pounds
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: QB3
Bucky Brooks: QB2
Mel Kiper, Jr.: QB2
Pro Football Focus: QB3
Dane Brugler: QB3
Stats/awards
2019 (Arizona State): 12 games (12 starts); 205-of-338 passing (60.7 percent), 2,943 yards, 17 TD, 2 INT; 125 rushes for 355 yards and 3 TDs
2020 (Arizona State): 4 games (4 starts); 49-of-84 passing (58.3 percent), 701 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT; 33 rushes for 223 yards and 4 TDs; Season shortened because of COVID-19
2021 (Arizona State): 13 games (13 starts); 197-of-301 passing (65.4 percent), 2,381 yards, 10 TDs, 10 INT; 138 rushes for 710 yards and 6 TDs
2022 (LSU): 14 games (14 starts); 266-of-388 passing (68.6 percent), 2,913 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INT; 186 rushes for 885 yards and 11 TDs
2023 (LSU): 12 games (12 starts); 236-of-327 passing (72.2 percent), 3,812 yards, 40 TDs, 4 INT; 135 rushes for 1,134 yards and 10 TDs; Won Heisman Trophy, AP Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award; Named First-Team All-America, SEC Offensive Player of the Year
College totals: 55 games (55 starts); 953-of-1,438 passing (66.3 percent), 12,750 yards, 89 TDs, 20 INT; 617 rushes for 3,307 yards and 34 TDs
3 notes
One and only: Daniels is the only player in FBS history to throw for more than 12,000 yards and rush for at least 3,000 in a career. In 2023, Daniels led FBS in yards per pass attempt (11.7) and yards per rush (8.4), becoming the first player to do so according to records kept since 1996.
Lofty leader: In 2023, Daniels led FBS in 13 statistical categories, ranging from traditional metrics like total yards (4,946), total touchdowns (50), passing touchdowns (40), rushing yards by a QB (1,134) and passer rating (an NCAA record 208.0 that would translate to a 143.7 in the NFL) to plays of 20-plus yards (90) and expected points added (132.3).
Double trouble: Daniels is the only player in college football history with 350-plus passing yards and 200 or more rushing yards in one game. He accomplished the feat against Florida, totaling an SEC-record 606 yards.
School: Michigan | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-2 1/2 | Wt: 219 pounds
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: QB4
Bucky Brooks: QB5
Mel Kiper, Jr.: QB4
Pro Football Focus: QB4
Dane Brugler: QB4
Stats/awards
2021: 11 games (0 starts); 34-of-59 passing (57.6 percent), 516 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INT; 27 rushes for 124 yards and 2 TDs
2022: 14 games (13 starts); 208-of-322 passing (64.6 percent), 2,719 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INT; 70 rushes for 306 yards and 5 TDs; All-Big Ten Second Team (media) and Third Team (coaches)
2023: 15 games (15 starts); 240-of-332 passing (72.3 percent), 2,991 yards, 22 TDs, 4 INT; 64 rushes for 202 yards and 3 TDs; Won Griese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten
College totals: 40 games (28 starts); 482-of-713 passing (67.6 percent), 6,226 yards, 49 TDs, 11 INT; 161 rushes for 632 yards and 10 TDs
3 notes
Completions to the right team: McCarthy set Michigan single-season records for completion percentage (72.3) and interception rate (1.2 percent) in 2023 and career records of 67.6 and 1.54, respectively.
27-1: While a team's record goes beyond its quarterback, Michigan went 27-1 with McCarthy as its starter. His winning percentage of 96.4 was the best by a college QB since Toledo's Chuck Ealey (1971) and Oklahoma's Jimmy Harris (1956) capped their careers with marks of 35-0 and 25-0.
"Ice Man": Former Wolverines and current Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh called McCarthy "Ice Man" for his coolness under pressure. It's also fitting that McCarthy's mom was a competitive figure skater and he started playing hockey at age 5.
School: Oregon (after Auburn) | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-2 | Wt: 214 pounds
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: QB5
Bucky Brooks: QB6 (Brooks designated as "keep an eye on")
Mel Kiper, Jr.: QB5
Pro Football Focus: QB5
Dane Brugler: QB5
Stats/awards
2019 (Auburn): 13 games (13 starts); 217-of-377 passing (57.6 percent), 2,542 yards, 16 TD, 6 INT; 97 rushes for 313 yards and 7 TDs; SEC Freshman of the Year
2020 (Auburn): 11 games (11 starts); 214-of-357 passing (59.9 percent), 2,415 yards, 12 TD, 7 INT; 108 rushes for 388 yards and 7 TDs
2021 (Auburn): 10 games (10 starts); 197-of-323 passing (61.0 percent), 2,294 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INT; 57 rushes for 168 yards and 4 TDs; Missed time because of an ankle injury that required surgery
2022 (Oregon): 13 games (13 starts); 294-of-409 passing (71.9 percent), 3,593 yards, 29 TDs, 7 INT; 89 rushes for 510 yards and 14 TDs
2023 (Oregon): 14 games (14 starts); 364-of-470 passing (77.4 percent), 4,508 yards, 45 TDs, 3 INT; 54 rushes for 234 yards and 6 TDs; Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, William V. Campbell Trophy ("Academic Heisman"); Finished third in voting for Heisman Trophy; Named Third-Team All-America by The Associated Press
College totals: 61 games (61 starts); 1,286-of-1,936 passing (66.4 percent), 15,352 yards, 113 TDs, 26 INT; 405 rushes for 1,613 yards and 38 TDs
3 notes
Starts aplenty: Nix set an FBS record for starts by a quarterback (61), which was enabled in part by 2020 not counting against players' eligibility limits.
Completion factory: In 2023, Nix set the new NCAA single-season record for completion percentage (77.45) and broke his previous school record of 71.9 from 2022. He capped his college career as the Ducks all-time leader in completion percentage (74.9).
First time in a long time: Nix became the first true freshman QB to start a season opener at Auburn since 1946. His father Patrick played quarterback at Auburn, appearing in 32 games from 1992-95, and coached him in high school.
School: Washington (after Indiana) | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-2 | Wt: 216 pounds
Experts' Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: QB6
Bucky Brooks: QB4
Mel Kiper, Jr.: QB6
Pro Football Focus: QB6
Dane Brugler: QB6
Stats/awards
2018 (Indiana): 3 games (0 starts); 21-of-34 passing (61.8 percent), 219 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 7 rushes for 45 yards; Redshirted
2019 (Indiana): 7 games (6 starts); 110-of-160 passing (68.8 percent), 1,394 yards, 10 TD, 4 INT; 22 rushes for 119 yards and 2 TDs; Suffered injury to right (non-throwing) shoulder
2020 (Indiana): 6 games (6 starts); 124-of-220 passing (56.4 percent), 1,645 yards, 14 TD, 4 INT; 18 rushes for 25 yards and 2 TDs; Second-Team All-Big Ten; Suffered torn ACL
2021 (Indiana): 5 games (5 starts); 87-of-162 passing (53.7 percent), 939 yards, 4 TDs, 7 INT; 17 rushes for minus-24 yards and 2 TDs; Suffered AC joint separation in left (throwing) shoulder
2022 (Washington): 13 games (13 starts); 362-of-554 passing (65.3 percent), 4,641 yards, 31 TDs, 8 INT; 35 rushes for 92 yards and 4 TDs; Second-Team All-Pac 12
2023 (Washington): 15 games (15 starts); 363-of-555 passing (65.4 percent), 4,903 yards, 36 TDs, 11 INT; 35 rushes for 8 yards and 3 TDs; Won Maxwell Award; Second-Team All-America; Second-Team All-Pac-12; Finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, the highest ever by a Husky
College totals: 49 games (45 starts); 1,067-of-1,685 passing (63.3 percent), 13,741 yards, 96 TDs, 34 INT; 134 rushes for 265 yards and 13 TDs
3 notes
Yards and yards: After leading FBS with 357.0 passing yards per game and setting a single-season school record with 4,641 yards, he again led FBS with 326.9 passing yards per game and broke his own school record with 4,903 yards on the season.
Back-to-back big games: Penix was named MVP of the Pac-12 Championship Game after going 27-for-39 with 319 yards and a touchdown against Oregon and followed by earning Sugar Bowl MVP honors when he completed 29 of 38 passes for 430 yards and two scores against Texas in the CFP semifinal round.
Determined: For his return from the bevy of injuries suffered at Indiana, Penix was named one of three named Comeback Player of the Year by the College Sports Communicators/Fiesta Bowl in 2022.
