PFF Forecasts Rather Accurate Vikings Trade
The Minnesota Vikings will reveal at least four new players in three weeks, as the 2025 NFL Draft begins in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 24th.
PFF Forecasts Rather Accurate Vikings Trade
Thankfully, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah filled most major roster holes in free agency, and most fans agree that the current depth chart is sitting pretty.
So, as much mystery looms about Minnesota’s draft intent, Pro Football Focus came along this week and forecasted a rather accurate prediction — two trades down the board before picking a player at all.
It’s a Double Trade Down for Vikings, per PFF
Foremost, PFF’s Mason Cameron detailed the trades: “Trade terms: Eagles receive Pick No. 24; Vikings receive Pick Nos. 32, 96 and 161.”
“Titans receive Pick No. 32; Vikings receive Pick Nos. 35 and 120.”
The move would totally replenish the Vikings’ draft piggybank and enable Adofo-Mensah to conduct a “normal” draft. For now, the team has the fewest draft picks in the business, with the event just 20 days away.
Cameron further explained, “The first move on this list is almost necessary; Minnesota needs to trade back and gather more assets. The team holds just two selections within the first 100 picks (Nos. 24 and 97) and carries four picks in total. Although the Vikings were active in free agency, their developmental depth is a bit lacking, which will be the driving force behind this move.”
“Situated at the No. 24 pick, the Vikings could maneuver down twice — once into the backend of the first round with a team eyeing key defensive help and again with a team looking to take advantage of the fifth-year option awarded to first-round selections. That would be the antithesis of their active approach during the 2024 NFL Draft, in which they traded up twice.”
Moreover, the PFF idea mirrors what many fans believe: Minnesota will, indeed, trade down to obtain more turns of the wheel.
“Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could again look to leverage the team’s new draft slot and move back once more. Armed with the No. 35 pick, the Titans could sneak back into Round 1 to acquire more talent for, presumably, their rookie signal-caller selected No. 1 overall — something PFF’s Dalton Wasserman projected in his most recent mock draft,” Cameron added.
“Turning the No. 24 pick into a package that includes Pick Nos. 35, 96,120 and 161 would be an excellent outcome for Minnesota.”
Then What at Pick No. 35?
If the Vikings effectuate the PFF plan — two trades back — they’d probably have these options with the 35th pick:
Trey Amos (CB, Mississippi)
Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
Shavon Revel Jr. (CB, East Carolina)
And, of course, Minnesota’s Round 3 and 4 options would totally open up. For now, the team has just one pick between the end of Round 1 and the start of Round 5.
The Vikings’ Main Roster Need
It may sound strange, but Minnesota has no urgent roster needs. They just don’t. Adofo-Mensah adepty addressed all roster holes in free agency, signing Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and Eric Wilson on defense while adding Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Jordan Mason on offense.
The depth chart is in magnificent shape.
However, if one nitpicks, cornerback could probably use some love, a youth movement that could be satisfied by the draft selection of Amos, Hairston, or Revel Jr.
Otherwise, the Vikings could wait until after the draft and hope to sign a man like Asante Samuel Jr., who has frequented the rumor mill.
Recent Mock Draft Darlings
Mock drafts are fast and furious — that’s what April does — and there is no shortage of theories for Minnesota’s first draft pick.
The Athletic‘s Ben Standig predicted a trade, too, before making a selection, and mocked Alabama Guard Tyler Booker to the Vikings.
He explained, “The Vikings (four picks before moving back) should be the team most aggressively looking for a trade-down. They miss out on Grey Zabel yet still draft arguably the best interior offensive lineman. Booker, a two-year starter for the Crimson Tide, was frequently projected among the top 15 before a rough combine.”
CBS Sports’ Kyle Stackpole sticked-and-picked at No. 24 for Minnesota late last month, choosing safety Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina. “The Vikings had a lot of money to spend and spent it well, allowing them to subscribe to a best-player-available approach come draft day,” he noted.
“Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores could use the ultra-explosive Nick Emmanwori as a chess piece to take his unit to the next level.”
Why a Trade — or 2 — Is Likely
At heart, Adofo-Mensah loves to trade and hasn’t been shy about the tactic since his first draft three years ago.
Unless an irresistible player, such as Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona), Will Johnson (CB, Michigan), or Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas), falls to pick No. 24, trading back to grab more picks feels like the Adofo-Mensahian method this go-round.
He even joked this week at league meetings that there’s a way to transform his four picks into 15.
Where’d All the Picks Go?
During the 2024 NFL Draft, Minnesota secured its quarterback of the future, J.J. McCarthy, at pick No. 10 and then believed it still had money (in draft-speak) to burn in the draft.
Adofo-Mensah then traded most of his 2025 draft class, outside of the 1st-Rounder, to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the draft pick that netted outside linebacker Dallas Turner.
The price was so steep that it might be mandatory for Adofo-Mensah to do the opposite this time — trade down. That’s why outfits like PFF foresee a trade or two.
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