EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The NFL draft is not so much a marathon weekend as it is a season of speculation and subterfuge, a made-for-TV mystery unfolding team by team across the league.
Minnesota’s motive has been clear, actually, for two years. The Vikings are as poised as ever to take a quarterback in the first round.
From the day Kevin O’Connell was hired as head coach, following the arrival of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in the momentous leadership change they made in 2022, the Vikings have been pointed in this direction for this draft.
When they last year declined to give quarterback Kirk Cousins an extension beyond the 2023 season, the path straightened further. Then after Cousins departed as a free agent this spring for Atlanta, the Vikings acquired an additional first-round pick in a trade with Houston to take the 11th and 23rd overall selections into the draft for potential fuel to move up. They even hired Josh McCown, the 18-year NFL veteran, as their new quarterbacks coach.
Archie Cooley, the college football coach whose innovative offense launched Jerry Rice, has died
Coach vows to beat Singapore in World Cup qualifier
Beyoncé is bringing her fans of color to country music. Will they be welcomed in?
China's Wang goes top in ITTF world rankings
With Anthony Richardson on board, Colts will look beyond quarterback in NFL draft
Mom shares horrifying photo of 20 hidden blood clots removed from her leg
North China's Inner Mongolia launches ancient books database platform
Cambodia plans to add 7 tangible, 3 intangible cultural properties to UNESCO's heritage listing: PM
China bans Uyghurs from using social media apps — Radio Free Asia
Israel must stop settler attacks on Palestinians, UN office says