Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud throws for NFL representatives during Ohio State football s pro day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on March 22, 2023. © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK.
The NFL draft is an unpredictable beast, and there’s just no other way to slice it.
Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud is the odds-on favorite to get drafted first overall to the Carolina Panthers, who sent a king’s ransom to the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 pick. In all likelihood, Stroud to Carolina will happen.
But what if it doesn’t?
Two weeks ago, former Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said about Carolina’s draft plans, “I think it’s gonna be a very, very surprising pick in Carolina. I just know that there are a couple of guys upstairs that are enamored by the physical ability of Anthony Richardson. I’ll just say that.”
And to a degree, unless Davis is part of Carolina’s draft misdirection scheme, his statement casts doubt on Stroud’s inevitability as the No. 1 overall pick. It could mean the Panthers indeed shock the world by taking Richardson. Alabama’s Bryce Young would fall to the Houston Texans, who would presumably scoop the man. Then, the Arizona Cardinals pick at No 3., and they just granted Kyler Murray an enormous contract and don’t need a quarterback.
That’s where the Vikings — or any QB-needy team — could pounce.
Therefore, we asked Vikings fans about their appetite for trading three 1st-Rounders to Arizona for Stroud — yes, three 1sts. Fifty-three percent, in some fashion, would either pull the trigger or warm up to the idea.
About 42% said a rather emphatic no thanks. The poll was unscientific, and 1,080 folks responded.
To be fair on the realism of the plan, no mock draft anywhere — probably not even on behalf of Vikings fans — has mock-drafted Stroud to the Vikings. It’s the longest of draft longshots and can only come to fruition if the Panthers get wild with the first pick. Still, some team may strike via trade with the Cardinals at No. 3, and if Stroud falls past the Texans at No. 2, why not the Vikings?
On Monday, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah seemed to confirm the would-be strategy of trading with the Cardinals but for a different team, the Tennessee Titans. Jeremiah said, “Can I give you the team that I have been told to keep an eye on that’s exploring this and looking into this? Again, this is just people around the league who said do not sleep on Numero 11. The Tennessee Titans. The two teams to keep an eye on with the trade-ups were the Raiders and the Titans.”
Swapping assets with Arizona isn’t all that weird, and if Stroud falls, he could become the third overall pick to a team not yet known.
Moreover, Vikings fans’ enthusiasm for such a blustery trade is noteworthy. Donating three 1st-Rounder anywhere for anything is a mammoth risk, but after five years of Kirk Cousins, half of the fanbase is willing to be bold.
After that, Stroud and his next team will hope the young passer breaks the Ohio State quarterback curse. None have ever been any good in the NFL, except for Justin Fields, of whom the verdict is still out:
The Vikings haven’t drafted a quarterback in Round 1 since Teddy Bridgewater in 2014.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.