Vikings Pass on Second QB Tier, Take Clemson CB in Mel Kiper Jr.'s Mock Draft

The Vikings might be in a tough spot to land one of the top three quarterbacks.

Even with the 11th overall pick, their highest selection in nearly a decade, the Vikings appear to be in a tough spot to land their quarterback of the future in this year's draft.

Anything can happen, of course, but there seems to be a good chance that the top three quarterbacks in this class — Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels — will go 1-2-3. The Bears aren't really going to pass up on a QB at No. 1 to keep Justin Fields, are they? The Commanders and new GM Adam Peters are almost certainly taking a QB at 2. And the Patriots might've already made it known that they're taking a quarterback with the third pick.

If that's the case, the Vikings would have to wow one of those three teams with a massive deal to land one of those three quarterbacks. The optimal scenario for Minnesota would be the Patriots taking Marvin Harrison Jr., for example, which could allow the Vikings to trade up to 4 or 5 — the Cardinals and Chargers don't need a QB — to take Daniels. But that might not be an option.

The second tier of quarterbacks consists of Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Washington's Michael Penix Jr., and Oregon's Bo Nix. Will the Vikings like any of those players enough to take them at 11? They're typically discussed as borderline first-rounders more than borderline top-ten picks.

In the first mock draft of the year from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., the three top-tier QBs go 1-2-3 (with Daniels going above Maye, interestingly). The only defensive player off the board in the top ten is Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner to the Falcons at 8. With the 11th pick, Kiper has the Vikings passing on the tier two quarterbacks and taking a cornerback.

Kiper's Vikings pick at 11: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

In my final mock ahead of the 2023 draft, I projected the Vikings taking a cornerback. Instead, they went with wide receiver Jordan Addison, who had a fantastic rookie season, catching 10 touchdown passes. That need in the secondary still exists. Minnesota ranked 28th in passing yards allowed to receivers last season (3,019), and 2022 second-rounder Andrew Booth Jr. hasn't quite figured things out. Let's go back to Clemson — Booth's former school — with the selection of Wiggins here. Wiggins was a lockdown defender in 2023, allowing just 4.2 yards per attempt as the nearest defender in coverage.

Could the Vikings take a quarterback? For sure. Kirk Cousins is a free agent, and I don't think rookie fifth-rounder Jaren Hall will be the guy long-term. At this point, though, the most likely option might be running it back with Cousins, so adding a starter on defense makes more sense. This obviously could change as we learn more about general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's plans.

The other options on the board here include UCLA edge Laiatu Latu, Florida State edge Jared Verse, Alabama CB Terrion Arnold, Iowa CB Cooper DeJean, Texas DT Byron Murphy II, and Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton. The only other QB selected in the first round of Kiper's mock is McCarthy, who goes to the Seahawks at 16.

Wiggins is a 6'2" corner who had three interceptions (two of them returned for touchdowns), 19 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and three tackles for loss over the last two seasons — and he doesn't even turn 21 until August. He's a lanky corner with big-time athleticism and playmaking ability, though teams may have questions about his physicality.

The Vikings are still looking for their first true shutdown outside cornerback since Xavier Rhodes was in his prime. Maybe Wiggins could be that guy.

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