What Does it Mean That Vikings Haven't Worked Out Jayden Daniels?

The Vikings have had private workouts with four quarterbacks, but not the reigning Heisman winner.
Nov 18, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Heisman Trophy candidate LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden
Nov 18, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Heisman Trophy candidate LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden / Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports
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The Vikings have been busy studying the 2024 NFL Draft's quarterback class in recent weeks. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O'Connell, QBs coach Josh McCown, and others in the organization traveled across the country for private workouts with Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix on their college campuses, according to SI's Albert Breer.

The name conspicuously missing from that list is Jayden Daniels.

That doesn't necessarily mean the Vikings don't have interest in Daniels. They did send McCown to LSU's pro day and have undoubtedly done plenty of homework on the reigning Heisman winner. Maybe, for whatever reason, the two sides just haven't been able to arrange a workout thus far. It could still happen over the next couple weeks. For obvious reasons, there's been buzz that Daniels is interested in the idea of being drafted by the Vikings. It's even possible that the lack of a reported workout with Daniels is Minnesota's way of trying to conceal their interest in him.

Or maybe the Vikings really are dialed in on the other four quarterbacks who are in the first-round mix along with Daniels and presumed No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Maybe they don't view Daniels as a great scheme fit. Maybe they're concerned by the way he opens himself up to big hits while scrambling. Maybe they're pretty convinced that he's going No. 2 overall to the Commanders, so it isn't really worth their time to study him much more than they already have.

Whatever the case may be, it'll be interesting to see if anything changes regarding the Vikings' reported (lack of) involvement with Daniels as we get closer to the draft. At the moment, it feels like Maye, McCarthy, Penix, or Nix will be selected as the Vikings' quarterback of the future in a couple weeks.


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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.