We’re still very early in the 2024 NFL Draft process, and there are a lot of dominos yet to fall into place. The NFL’s free agency period and the NFL Scouting Combine are going to go a long way towards completing our NFL Draft picture, and will likely shake up a lot of early projections. Still, it’s interesting to see the early trends — like the Minnesota Vikings opting to take defensive help instead of a quarterback.
That has been a common theme in mock drafts lately, and that theme continues with the latest mock draft from SBNation writer JP Acosta. Acosta has the Vikings taking UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, a popular choice for the Vikings among NFL Draft prognosticators. This is what Acosta had to say on the selection:
Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport and DJ Wonnum are all free agents, and while Hunter should get a hefty payday, the other two are more unsure. Latu is a refined technician of a pass rusher with phenomenal hand usage. Put him in a Brian Flores defense and let him cook.
As Acosta points out, the Vikings could be looking at a real dearth of talent at the position after free agency. Danielle Hunter and his potential departure grab all the headlines, but it’s not a foregone conclusion that Marcus Davenport and DJ Wonnum are back in purple next year, either. Minnesota could be in a real bad position at pass rusher if they aren’t careful — which makes the Latu pick all the more likely.
