Vikings Trade Predicted … with Patriots
The Minnesota Vikings own the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after finishing 14-3 in 2024 and flaming out in the postseason’s first round.
Vikings Trade Predicted … with Patriots
The franchise has long-term roster needs at cornerback, interior defensive line, interior offensive line, running back, and possibly safety.
And according to Pro Football Focus, Minnesota may trade the 24th pick on draft night — to the New England Patriots.
PFF’s Dalton Wasserman detailed the hypothetical deal, “Trade terms: Patriots receive 2025 first-round pick (No. 24); Vikings receive 2025 second-round pick (No. 38), 2025 third-round pick (No. 77).”
Wasserman then mock-drafted John Conerly Jr. from Oregon, an offensive tackle to New England, and wrote, “While New England will have several interior options to choose from in free agency, there aren’t as many quick fixes for their abhorrent tackle situation. The pick-needy Vikings could look to trade down, as projected here, and the Patriots become a suitor to select Conerly. If New England feels satisfied at wide receiver and offensive tackle after this draft, they’ll have succeeded.”
So, that theoretical deal would leave Minnesota with an extra draft pick while sliding down the board to No. 38.
At No. 38, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could turn around and target one of these players:
- Shavon Revel Jr. (CB, East Carolina)
- Grey Zabel (iOL, North Dakota State)
- Donovan Jackson (iOL, Ohio State)
- Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
- Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
- Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
- Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
- Azareye’h Thomas (CB, Florida State)
Thereafter, and depending on the pick at No. 38, Minnesota could explore one of these players, in theory, at No. 77:
- Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
- Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame)
- Deone Walker (DT, Kentucky)
- Dylan Sampson (RB, Tennessee)
- Tate Ratledge (iOL, Georgia)
- Cam Skattebo (RB, Arizona State)
Adofo-Mensah has four draft picks as-is without any trades on the docket in 2025:
- Round 1
- Round 3 (Compensatory)
- Round 5 (Za’Darius Smith trade to CLE)
- Round 5
And that’s probably why PFF envisions a trade for Minnesota; it has the least draft capital in the sport entering the draft. While trading back doesn’t necessarily accrue more capital on trade value charts, it would hand Minnesota more tangible picks. That is — Adofo-Mensah could flip the 24th overall pick into two or three players instead of one.
If the Vikings want more young players on the roster, trading back from No. 24, assuming they have confidence that they can hit on Round 2 and 3 players, is the wisest option.
The PFF scenario is rather realistic.
The NFL Draft is 57 days away.
A Vikings Dream Will Finally Come True
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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