Vikings’ Next Trade Could Happen Sooner than You Think
One week remains before the 2024 NFL Draft, and trade rumors involving the Minnesota Vikings hit a fever pitch on Thursday.
Vikings’ Next Trade Could Happen Sooner than You Think
Minnesota is expected to trade up the draftboard for a quarterback of the future, and according to Kimberley A. Martin, a deal could even be reached before the draft begins.
“The Vikings have been on the phone trying to actively move up. In a perfect world, they would start Thursday with that top-5 pick already in hand, But it’s not guaranteed yet, and their GM has to decide if they’re going to give up the kind of compensation that they need to get into the top five,” Martin explained this week on ESPN’s Get Up.
On March 13th, Minnesota watched as quarterback Kirk Cousins, who led the Vikings for six years, signed with the Atlanta Falcons for four years and $180 million. Hours later, the Vikings signed young-but-journeyman passer Sam Darnold, a presumptive insurance policy for a rookie to be named later.
Then, two days after Cousins left, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pressed the button on an unexpected trade, sending two 2nd-Round picks to Houston for the Texans’ 2024 1st-Rounder (Pick No. 23) and a late-round pick swap. Minnesota currently owns the 11th and 23rd picks for draft night on April 25th.
Most expect Minnesota to trade up again, likely with a team such as the Washington Commanders (Pick No. 2), the New England Patriots (Pick No. 3), the Arizona Cardinals (Pick No. 4), or the Los Angeles Chargers (Pick No. 5).
And six quarterbacks await selection: Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), and Bo Nix (Oregon) — all expected to go off the draftboard before the end of Round 2.
In addition to the Martin reporting, the Patriots re-announced their open-for-business sign on Thursday. “We’re open to anything. Moving up, moving down. We’re open for business in the first round and every round,” de facto New England Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf said at a press conference.
If Minnesota is comfortable sending three 1st-Round picks — and whatever else it might take — to New England, North Carolina’s Drake Maye can be the target. Per oddsmakers, Caleb Williams is expected to fly off the board at pick No. 1 to the Chicago Bears, with LSU’s Jayden Daniels presumptively on his way to the Washington Commanders.
Earlier this week, Adam Schefter said about Maye and the Vikings, “It all depends on the team you talk to. It all depends on the team’s interest. If Minnesota were to find a way to get up to three, my sense is, and we don’t know fully, but my sense is that Drake Maye would be the preference.”
While the trade aspect could go all the way to draft night, Martin’s commentary shed new light on the possibility of a second pre-draft trade — which could hit at any minute.
Minnesota has never used a Top 10 draft pick on a quarterback.
Michigan signal-caller J.J. McCarthy is the odds-on favorite to land in Minnesota (+115) through trade or organic selection at pick No. 11.
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 MIN 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.
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