The Unthinkable Option for the Vikings in the Draft
Remember last year when the Atlanta Falcons accounted for the almighty draft shocker, brushing Kirk Cousins’ megacontract to the side and selecting Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.?
The Unthinkable Option for the Vikings in the Draft
What if the Minnesota Vikings got in on the fun this go-round, participating in the draft shocker by trading up the board to No. 2 — for hybrid CB-WR Travis Hunter?
While unlikely, there’s evidently a path for it.
Browns, Giants Open for Trade Business
Just two days before the draft, ESPN reported this mini-bombshell: “The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants are fielding trade inquiries for their early picks in the NFL draft, sources told ESPN’s Peter Schrager. Although the Tennessee Titans announced Tuesday that they are not entertaining offers for the first overall pick, sources told Schrager that the Browns, who have the second pick, and the Giants, who pick third, have received trade calls over the past 48 hours — and that neither team is outwardly rejecting those overtures.”
“The expectation, sources told Schrager, is that those teams looking to trade up to the No. 2 or No. 3 pick are pursuing Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter or Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.”
The Browns and Giants are apparently open for business, listening to offers for their Nos. 2 and 3 picks, respectively. We ask again — what if Minnesota hit Cleveland’s line?
“All 32 teams in the NFL still have their original first-round pick this year, which has seen a historic lack of trades in the lead-up to the draft. With Thursday’s first round just two days away, this is the closest to the start of a draft without any trades involving first-round picks in the common draft era (since 1967), according to ESPN Research,” ESPN added.
Travis Hunter to Vikings
Because the Browns are open to deals, the unthinkable — in a good way — could be a path for Minnesota to trade up the board for Hunter, considered by most a generational rookie talent.
Hunter plays both sides of the ball — wide receiver on offense and cornerback on defense — and actually said recently that he’d flat-out retire if his new team didn’t allow him to play both positions.
In this hypothetical world, the Vikings would mortgage the future, trading an absolute haul to the Browns for the No. 2 pick, turning around to pick Hunter and feature a foundation crop of players, including Justin Jefferson, J.J. McCarthy, Christian Darrisaw, Travis Hunter, Jordan Addison, Jonathan Greenard, and T.J. Hockenson.
It’s the proverbial, “Who says no?”
The Trade Package
But first — one must stomach the trade package.
For Cleveland to move off its No. 2 spot, a trade might have to look like this:
Vikings Get:
No. 2 Pick
Pick No. 255 (Round 7)
2026 5th-Rounder
Browns Get:
No. 24 Pick
2026 1st-Rounder
2026 2nd-Rounder
2026 3rd-Rounder
Depending on how much the Browns price-gouge, even that deal may not get the trade over the top. But some reasonable facsimile should do the trick.
Travis Hunter Scouting Report
Hunter will only be deprived of the draft’s top spot because the Tennessee Titans desperately need a quarterback — Miami’s Cam Ward — after deciding Will Levis is not the future.
Otherwise, here’s Hunter’s scouting report, according to NFL Draft Buzz’s Lennox Tate: “The most intriguing debate surrounding Hunter extends beyond which position maximizes his generational talent – it centers on whether his two-way experience helps or hinders his NFL projection. His 1,152 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns showcase legitimate WR1 potential, and his route-running polish would warrant first-round consideration on offense alone. However, some traditional evaluators may view his split focus as a deterrent, preferring prospects who’ve dedicated themselves exclusively to mastering one position.”
“Despite these concerns, Hunter’s highest ceiling remains at cornerback, where his unique combination of ball skills, processing speed, and fluid athleticism project him as a potential shutdown corner in the mold of Charles Woodson. While he could excel as a big-play receiver, his ability to eliminate an opponent’s top target while creating turnovers provides more game-changing value in today’s pass-heavy league.”
The Vikings would employ a two-way star and generate excitement, jersey sales, and talent aplenty.
Lennox added: “Smart coordinators will still utilize his offensive talents in specific packages, but his future should be on defense where he can control games from the boundary. This positional versatility ultimately becomes both his greatest strength and biggest question mark in draft evaluation. While some teams will see his two-way ability as proof of elite athleticism and football IQ, others may prefer a more conventional corner who’s spent years focusing solely on defensive technique.”
“His rare athletic traits and mental processing speed still project him as a likely top-5 selection, but his path to NFL stardom will likely require committing fully to cornerback while maintaining his offensive skills as a situational weapon rather than a primary role.”
The CB, WR Rooms
This outlandish scenario would create this cornerback room for Minnesota:
- Travis Hunter
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jeff Okudah
And this WR room:
- Justin Jefferson
- Jordan Addison
- Travis Hunter
- Jalen Nailor
- Rondale Moore
Could you dig it?
The Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Connection to Cleveland
Admittedly, the trade proposal is far-fetched, but it’s worth noting that Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah previously worked for the Browns — the team listening to trade offers regarding its second overall pick.
More than any general manager in the NFL, Browns boss Andrew Berry would listen to Adofo-Mensah’s proposal. They’re friends.
The unthinkable would be a monster trade for Hunter to the Vikings.
A 3rd Vikings QB Is on the Way
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