The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly looking to back up the proverbial Brinks truck of draft capital for a shot at picking up a franchise quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft.
There have been a ton of reports insinuating that the Vikings have been lusting after a franchise quarterback in this month’s draft. And, reportedly, they’re willing to give up a ton– to the point of, maybe, mortgaging the team’s future for the privilege of moving up from their current no. 11 draft slot.
Minnesota Vikings Focused on Trading into Top 5?
To their benefit, Minnesota has two first-round picks this year (no. 11 and no. 23 via trade with the Houston Texans). There’s been lots of chatter about the front office being willing to trade both, plus high-value draft picks in the future and even established field talent for a shot at moving into the top five this draft.
Moving into the no. 1 or no. 2 slot in the draft isn’t an option for Minnesota. The Chicago Bears seem set on drafting Caleb Williams as a potential franchise-altering quarterback in the overall no. 1 slot while the Washington Commanders appear to be focused on keeping their no. 2 pick and first dibs on the second-best quarterback prospect.
Trades to Get the Vikings Into the Top 5
In a trade proposal posted by Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, the Vikings give up a massive haul to the New England Patriots for the Patriots’ no. 3 overall pick.
According to Kay, the Vikings would deal away their two first-round picks (no. 11 and no. 23), their 2025 first-round pick, and a 2026 second-round pick for the Patriots’ first-round pick this year (no. 3).
Although the Patriots are just as quarterback-needy as the Vikings, many believe that they’d be willing to trade down eight spots and miss out on an elite-tier quarterback prospect this year to help fill the multiple holes in their roster.
Some, such as former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, even believe the Patriots could insist on receiving wide receiver Justin Jefferson or left tackle Christian Darrisaw as part of the trade package.
A deal with New England might cost too much, even for a desperate Vikings team. But there are other options.
In a recent mock draft from The Athletic, Nick Baumgardner proposes that the Vikings could send their two first-round picks (no. 11 and no. 23) and their 2025 first-round pick to Arizona for the Cardinals’ No. 4 pick in the first round.
In a recent ESPN mock draft, Mel Kiper Jr. has Minnesota offering up that same package of draft picks to the Los Angeles Chargers for their no. 5 pick.
Minnesota’s Wish Lost of Quarterback Draft Prospects
By media accounts, the Vikings’ front office has their eyes set on Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye if they can get the no. 3 or no. 4 pick via trade. J.J. McCarthy is the backup option if they can’t get either Daniels or Maye.
The desperation to trade up comes into play due to the fact that, if the Vikings stand pat at no. 11, there’s no guarantee that even second-tier quarterback prospects Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. will still be available when Minnesota steps up to the podium.
But, as mentioned earlier, making such a huge deal would be the equivalent of mortgaging the team’s future for a roll of the dice in the present tense. It would be taking a huge risk for rights to the acquisition of a quarterback who may be no better than the third-best quarterback prospect in the draft.
Needless to say, that’s a huge gamble and one that may bury the franchise for years to come if it doesn’t pay off.
We’ll all know what’s what in the trade-minded brains of the Minnesota Vikings on April 25 when theories and proposals make way for stone-cold reality.
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