How the Vikings Can Trade Back into Round 2
The Minnesota Vikings began the 2025 NFL Draft with a bang, opting not to trade down from their No. 24 spot and instead sticking-and-picking with Ohio State offensive guard Donovan Jackson.
How the Vikings Can Trade Back into Round 2
The purple team will now showcase its most formidable offensive line in years, certainly since the Bryant McKinnie + Steve Hutchinson era, and maybe even back to the late 1990s.
But with just three picks remaining this weekend, fans have wondered Thursday night and Friday evening, “How they can get back into Round 2.”
Well, here’s the answer.
It won’t be cheap, not by a longshot.
A Disclaimer: It Will Be Expensive
When trading the following year’s draft picks, the value traditionally dips by 40% to 45%. That is — if Minnesota’s 2026 2nd-Rounder will be worth one dollar next April, they will receive about 60 cents this weekend.
It’s the nature of the beast.
Therefore, it is not easy — some might call it silly — to finagle trades using next year’s allotment unless the general manager simply doesn’t care about value. And that’s the antithesis of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah; he’s all about his value.
Adofo-Mensah’s only saving grace would be “fleecing” another franchise, which will be challenging with next year’s picks.
A Trade Example with the 49ers (Pick No. 43)
Adofo-Mensah kicked off his NFL career in the San Francisco 49ers’ front office, working his way up and eventually landing a promotion with the Cleveland Browns. We chose the 49ers’ 43rd pick as a sensible example to illustrate the cost of a would-be trade for Round 2 business.
Here’s what it would take, per commonly used trade calculators, for Minnesota to acquire the 49ers’ No. 43 selection:
Vikings Get:
Pick No. 43 (Round 2)
Pick No. 227 (Round 7)
49ers Get:
Pick No. 97 (Round 3)
2026 2nd-Rounder
2026 5th-Rounder
There’s no way around it. If Adofo-Mensah wants a 2nd-Rounder in the Top 45 Friday night, he must pay the tax.
A Trade Example with the Texans (Pick No. 58)
Suppose Minnesota has another team’s late-2nd-Rounder in mind. That’s more reasonable per trade calculation. The Texans could make sense as a dance partner as Houston has done recent business with Minnesota last offseason.
Here’s an example of the deal for the 58th overall pick:
Vikings Get:
Pick No. 58 (Round 2)
Texans Get:
Pick No. 97 (Round 3)
2026 3rd-Rounder
2026 6th-Rounder
This swap would preserve Minnesota’s 2nd-Rounder in 2026, and next year’s 3rd-Rounder would feel more appropriate because Adofo-Mensah has two extra compensatory picks on the way in 2026.
If you want the purple team to get a 2nd-Round pick on Thursday night, later in Round 2 is easier to wheel and deal.
Who to Target?
Depending on where Minnesota finds itself in Round 2, if applicable, these names could pique its interest:
- Darius Alexander (DT, Toledo)
- Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
- Alfred Collins (DT, Texas)
- Tre Harris (WR, Ole Miss)
- Kaleb Johnson (RB, Iowa)
- Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
- Damien Porter (CB, Iowa State)
- Shavon Revel Jr. (CB, East Carolina)
- T.J. Sanders (DT, South Carolina)
- Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
- Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame)
Reaction to Night No. 1
With Minnesota’s Round 1 selection of Jackson on Thursday night, fans mostly praised the pick. NFL.com assigned a “B” grade.
Chad Reuter explained, “Minnesota continued to remodel its interior offensive line with the selection of Jackson. He impressed by moving from left guard to left tackle during the Buckeyes’ championship run last season after the injury to Josh Simmons left a vacancy on the blind side. Jackson will move back to the interior in the pros. He’s a solid player who will be a sturdy pass protector and strong run blocker for years to come.”
“There was value at other areas of need for the Vikings when they were on the clock, with safeties Nick Emmanwori and Malaki Starks available, as well as cornerback Maxwell Hairston. The team could use more picks in this draft, too (it only has three remaining for now). I would have preferred to see Minnesota trade down at any cost instead of staying put to take an interior blocker.”
CBS Sports‘ Pete Prisco also assigned a “B” and noted: “Jackson is a good player who can play guard and tackle, but will be a guard for the Vikings. Minnesota needed to upgrade the interior of the offensive line and they will do it with Jackson. Teams loved his demeanor. I like the pick.”
If Adofo-Mensah makes no trade on Friday evening, he’d pick at No. 97 — in the late hours.
Vikings End 37-Year Drought in Draft
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