Aug 19, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots mascot Pat Patriot takes the field before the start of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings executed a frenzied first week of free agency, capping on Friday with a trade involving the Houston Texans.
This was the swap:
Vikings Receive:
No. 23
No. 232
Texans Receive:
No. 42
No. 188
2025 2nd-Round pick
All signs point to a quarterback for the Vikings as the eventual outcome of that trade, and these are the three most realistic trade partners for a second trade. To get one of the Top 4 quarterback prospects in the draft, Minnesota may need to trade up further.
They’re ranked in ascending order of likelihood.
If Minnesota wants J.J. McCarthy of Michigan, this is probably the spot to get him. While McCarthy could still be drafted in the Top 4 picks, a safer bet is placement at fifth or below.
And the Chargers own the fifth overall pick. Jim Harbaugh’s team does not need a quarterback; that’s what Justin Herbert is for.
Instead of doing business with division rivals like the Denver Broncos or Las Vegas Raiders — two teams that may need quarterbacks — Los Angeles can pull off a trade with a non-AFC-West team like the Vikings. Thanks to the aforementioned trade, Minnesota has the capital to outgun any team in a bidding war.
The Cardinals don’t need a quarterback. Plain and simple. They have Kyler Murray for the job.
So, if multiple draft picks on his ledger entice Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort, Minnesota could come calling at No. 4. This scenario would guarantee the Vikings’ selection of one of these men: Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), Jayden Daniels (LSU), or J.J. McCarthy (Michigan).
Of course, Arizona can stand pat, draft wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., and call it good. But if they don’t, this is another Minnesota trade possibility.
The man many fans covet as the Vikings’ next QB1, Drake Maye, is suddenly achievable via trade with the New England Patriots. The rumor mill has warbled in the last couple of weeks that the Patriots aren’t enamored with Maye, who could now wiggle him onto Minnesota’s depth chart.
New England has several roster needs to fill, and swapping assets with the Vikings could net Jerod Mayo’s team three 1st-Round picks. That may be too irresistible for a new Patriots leadership regime, especially if it pulls off a trade with the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields. Just an example.
The Vikings’ trade with Houston on Friday made Maye or McCarthy fundamentally attainable. It’s time to get excited.
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,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.