Welcome to SKOL Search!
This series will be your guide to the 2024 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.
We are getting a head start this year by looking at the talent projected to be available in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. Why start in the summer? It’s a good way to see how the players grow from year-to-year and we will be looking at players from a Vikings perspective.
Right now, the Vikings will have seven draft picks in the 2024 NFL draft.
- 1st round
- 2nd round
- 4th round
- 4th round (via Lions)
- 5th round (via Chiefs)
- 5th round (via Browns)
- 6th round
Background
Sam Hartman
- School: Notre Dame
- Year Entering: Sixth-year senior
- Height: 6010
- Weight: 208
- 247Sports Recruiting Rank: Three-star (87 rating), Four-star transfer portal (94 rating)
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Stats:
- Passing: 59.1% completion, 12,967 yards, 110 touchdowns, 41 interceptions
- Rushing: 416 attempts, 856 yards, 17 touchdowns
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Notes
- Four-year starter with a redshirt season as a true sophomore in 2019.
- Spent five seasons at Wake Forest and transferred to Notre Dame for 2023.
- Missed one start with a blood clot issue in 2022. He also had a rib removed and kept it.
- Only one season above 59% completion (2022).
- Runs a unique offense with the slow mesh.
- Games watched: 2021 Army, 2022 Army, 2022 Clemson, 2022 USC
What does he do well?
- A four-year starter for the Demon Deacons, Hartman was incredibly productive setting multiple school records in the process.
- Touch is something that Hartman thrives with. He layers the ball in nicely, especially on deep passes.
- Has the ability to make full-field reads, but is very consistent with RPO reads, as he runs Dave Clawson’s slow mesh offense.
- As seen in the above clip, he doesn’t panic in the pocket and stays patient while surveying downfield.
- Has dual-threat ability. Isn’t a super dynamic runner, but can gash you when given an opening.
- When he has a solid base, Hartman can gash you with good placement. He understands where the ball needs to be placed and can do so with pinpoint accuracy.
Where does he need improvement?
- Despite extensive experience, Hartman isn’t very accurate. He has only one season over 59% completion percentage and a lot of his struggles come from a poor base. He rushes his feet and will miss both egregiously and with simple placement. This will need major improvement for him to be considered a real prospect.
- He doesn’t have a strong arm. Can’t zip the ball into tight windows. That will be a major hindrance in the NFL. At the college level, you can away with it due to the wide spacing, but that doesn’t exist in the pro game.
- While he has shown the ability to execute a full field read, can he do that consistently?
- He plays in a gimmicky offense which is RPO heavy, but the mesh point is very slow to help make a potentially smarter decision. At Notre Dame this season, he will be afforded to ability to play in a more traditional offense.
How does he fit with the Vikings?
O’Connell wants the dual-threat ability along with the ability to dominate from the pocket. Hartman has some of that ability, especially with how patient he is when making reads from the pocket. He wouldn’t be someone that you want starting right away, but there is potential there.
Where does he project to go?
Right now, there are just too many questions surrounding Hartman. When you combine the below-average arm strength and accuracy with playing in a very gimmicky offense creates a cloudy picture. With so many variables with Hartman paired with his age makes him a difficult projection. At this point, I don’t think he can be considered before day three due to his limitations.
Projection: Day three/priority free agent
