A Trade Up to 6? Odds are Stronger than Ever
Mocks, mocks, and more mocks.
All with a common theme—the Vikings will select an offensive lineman in the first round. The name of that player remains to be determined, for now.
Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater are expected to be well off the board by the time the clock strikes Minnesota. Enter Christian Darrisaw and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Depending on what the Chargers do at thirteen, the Vikings could very well end up with their choice of either-or.
Twist!
The plot thickens with one Darren Wolfson Tweet:
I struggle to see them moving 2, like SF did, to move up. 1? Hmmm.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) April 21, 2021
Followed by another:
Im positive that they’ve had talks. Can’t say that I’ve heard of a deal being in place.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) April 21, 2021
And another:
What's the price? Need more than that! I will tell you what I know, not what I think: They have talked to Baltimore. Other possibility is moving up from 14 for Sewell or Slater. They've done extensive work on each. Radunz (and others) in play too if they go defense first.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) April 21, 2021
The Vikings’ interest is undoubtedly genuine and the odds of a possible trade are a fortiori.
Conversations are being held, as confirmed by Darren Wolfson. With whom? For starters, the Ravens, in exchange Orlando Brown, after all, those odds are more real than ever.
Better yet, the Vikings could be in conversations with the Dolphins for the number six overall pick.
As reported by Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins may not be done yet. And are considering a trade from teams looking to move up.
Adam Beasley (Miami Herald’s Dolphins Reporter) would later report the Dolphins’ trade-back percentages could spike if the Falcons do not take a quarterback or if the Bengals do not take a tackle.
Keep in mind the Dolphins recently were involved in some funky trade business themselves. First, they struck a trade with the 49ers to move down from three to twelve in exchange for two first-round picks.
Not done yet.
The Dolphins would turn around and shipped their own 2022 first-round pick (not San Francisco’s) to the Eagles in exchange for the sixth overall pick.
Chess, not checkers for Chris Grier.
At the very least, one could expect the Dolphins to re-coup the first-rounder they parted with if someone were to budge them from six.
Hmm.
Wolfson reports that the Vikings would be willing to part ways with one first-rounder to move up. Toss in the fact that the Vikings currently own ten picks, including two 3rd rounders and three 4th rounders.
*Rick Spielman enters the chat.
Spielman would undoubtedly have the ammo to spice up the deal for the Dolphins. Toss in an extra third on top of the 2022 first, along with some other minor details, and it could be enough sugar to sweeten the deal.
Suppose the Vikings were able to pull it off. That would probably be worth it. Slick Rick is more than capable of maneuvering the board once again to climb back up to ten picks. The only loss here is the 2022 first-round pick.
Ahh, good ol’ opportunity costs.
Moving up to six would put the Vikings in A1 position for a blue-chip player. They could have their choice of either: Fields, Lance, Sewell, Slater, Pitts, or Chase. Depending on how the board shakes up and what the Falcons and Bengals decide to do.
This could be further waned to either Sewell, Fields, or Lance if the situation were to commence.
Wolfson also reported a day ago that if the Vikings were to trade-up, it is most likely for Sewell, but Lance would be 2nd.
Adding the 20-year-old stalwart left tackle, Penei Sewell, would jump-start the offensive line that takes form like this in week one:
(LT) Penei Sewell, (LG) Mason Cole / FA signing, (C) Garrett Bradbury, (RG) Ezra Cleveland, (RT) Brian O’Neill.
Checkmate.
The Vikings may finally have an average, dare I say, above-average line in 2021.
As for the possibility of adding Lance, that option is certainly gaining steam as of late.
Drafting Lance after trading up may be the boldest decision made in Spielman’s tenure. It would instantly put the nail in the coffin in the Kirk Cousins experiment. Kirk would be expected to be the starter for 2021. After that, it could be the Trey Lance show for years to come. Boy, what a jolt that would be to the franchise.
Should Wolfson be correct and Spielman has the Dolphins on speed dial, April 29th could turn into the night that changes the direction of the Vikings’ franchise for the foreseeable future.
What a rush that could be.