As head coach Kevin O’Connell approaches a turning point in his career, the Minnesota Vikings are heading into a crossroads as a team.

Kirk Cousins, the quarterback, was first let go by O’Connell and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in free agency instead of being overpaid. The next move they made was sticking with Sam Darnold, a former No. 3 overall pick who was limited to backup responsibilities with the San Francisco 49ers the previous season, rather than going after a proven free agent like Baker Mayfield.

Their third choice was to give up a significant amount of draft money in exchange for an additional 2024 first-round pick (No. 23 overall) from the Houston Texans. This included second-round selections in 2024 and 2025 as well as a pick this year in the sixth round. That call was probably made by O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah in an attempt to formulate a strong offer to trade into the top five and select a franchise quarterback.

The Vikings’ exact draft position, their trade partner, and the quarterback they choose in the end are all still up in the air. Nonetheless, it seems likely that the choice will determine the direction the team and its head coach will go for years to come, both in terms of the identity of the franchise quarterback and O’Connell’s ability to develop him.

Kevin O’Connell is the X factor, some say. He will also lose his job if he fails in this endeavor. However, unless he makes a mistake, I’m going to presume that he is competent,” SKOR North’s Judd Zulgad stated on Tuesday, March 26. I’m going to extend a helping hand to this administration, and specifically to O’Connell, by saying, ‘You know what? They will give this youngster a far greater shot than many people who were drafted, regardless of who they manage to get.

Vikings Will Try to Get to No. 3 to Guarantee Top-4 Prospect, Give Kevin O’Connell Options at QB

NFL draft quarterback prospects (from left) Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy, Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr

In exchange for O’Connell’s employment and reputation as a head coach and quarterback guru during the following two or three seasons, the Vikings and the Patriots would benefit from the trade.

First off, Minnesota is assured of a top-four prospect. There is a valid argument over Williams and whether he belongs in a class by himself or with Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy as other elite quarterbacks in 2024. Though virtually everyone agrees that after those four guys are selected in April, the line separating first- and second-tier quarterbacks should be drawn.

By dealing for the third overall pick, the Vikings may also ensure that they will have an option between two of those top four prospects. In the unlikely event that Minnesota selects fourth overall, O’Connell might be stuck with a quarterback that he did not select first, second, or even third among the top four candidates. The Vikings face the possibility of not selecting any of the top four quarterbacks if they choose to select fifth overall.