Reports: Vikings linked to Patriots' 3rd pick, Jayden Daniels

Speculation running wild with more than two months to go before the draft.

Just think, football fans still have to endure 75 more days before finding out if rumors about their favorite team will be deemed true or false during the first round of the NFL Draft. 

For the Vikings Nation, it’s likely that the next 75 days will be a relentless chase for draft information — especially if Kirk Cousins doesn’t re-sign. Without Cousins, the draft is the only realistic place the Vikings can turn for a franchise quarterback. 

Saturday was an excellent example as there were multiple reports that fueled speculation that Minnesota could be QB hunting this offseason.

"Minnesota knows it eventually has to address the QB position long term, and the notion of bringing in Daniels to pair with their star LSU alum wideout Justin Jefferson has appeal to some in the organization," ESPN's Dan Graziano reported. 

And "the word" Twin Cities sports insider Darren Wolfson has received is that "Daniels would enjoy landing here." 

Here’s what NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah reported Saturday: 

I believe we'll see 4-5 teams look into moving up for a QB over the next few months. Teams aren't excited about next year's QB class.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 10, 2024

Are the Vikings in that group of 4-5 teams, right? Well, we can go back to Graziano to answer that question as he says that the Patriots may be open to trading the third overall pick and he named the Vikings and Falcons as teams to “keep an eye on" to try and acquire that pick. 

CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler caught wind of Graziano's report and noted that next year's draft class isn't considered chock-full of quarterbacks and that could make it a very competitive fight for QBs come April 25-27. 

"This is a key point," Brugler said. "And part of the reason we'll see several teams aggressively QB-hunting in the 1st round. Could a QB emerge next year (like Jayden Daniels did)? Sure. But right now, next year's QB class is looking very underwhelming."

The amount of draft speculation is overwhelming, especially when it comes to quarterbacks. Among the fuels to the fires: 

– Merril Hoge doesn't think Caleb Williams is going to be a superstar and Hoge was right about C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and guys like Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel. 

– Drake Maye is falling in the mock drafts for some reason

– J.J. McCarthy is rocketing up mock drafts since Jim Harbaugh boldly predicted he'd be the first overall pick 

Again, with two and a half months of speculation to go, this story is just getting started. The early chapters are clearly connecting dots between the Vikings and Daniels, but we have no idea how the rest of the pages will turn. Nobody does, so good luck trying to pinpoint what the Vikings are hoping to do. 

Nov 11, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) rushes for a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first half at Tiger Stadium / Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports