EVERY Vikings Trade Scenario in the Draft

Dustin Baker |

Apr 21, 2025

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) carries a boom box onto the field against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images.

Because the Minnesota Vikings own just four picks entering the 2025 NFL Draft, the team’s general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, is a popular candidate to fire off trades.

EVERY Vikings Trade Scenario in the Draft

The man came to Minnesota from a stockbroker’s trading background, and with only four picks, this might be the perfect time to wield his wheel-and-deal style.

And if Minnesota embarks on trade business during the draft, these are the most likely trade options, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely trade in the draft).

20. A Deal for Sauce Gardner

What Minnesota Gives —
No. 24 Pick
2026 2nd-Rounder

Vikings to Face the Packer Mocker — Oct 16, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) celebrates defeating the Green Bay Packers by wearing a cheesehead on the field following the game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

The wild Sauce Gardner rumor mill turns out to be accurate, and Adofo-Mensah lands his shutdown corner to coincide with the J.J. McCarthy era. The Vikings promptly extend Gardner to a megadeal.

19. Adding Kirk Cousins

What Minnesota Gives —
a 6th-Round pick

Preferring Cousins over Carson Wentz or Ryan Tannehill in free agency, Adofo-Mensah swings the reunion trade, nominating the former Viking for QB2 duty behind McCarthy.

18. Denzel Ward to MIN

What Minnesota Gives —
No. 24 pick for Ward and a 3rd-Rounder

Freshly drafting Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Cleveland doesn’t have the budget for Ward, and sends him to Minnesota, a club that does have the budget.

17. Quenton Nelson Joins Will Fries, Ryan Kelly

What Minnesota Gives —
No. 97 Pick

The Colts prefer youth at guard in the form of a 3rd-Round pick, and Adofo-Mensah totally steals Indianapolis’ offensive line interior for his team in 2025 and beyond.

16. Jalen Ramsey Reunion with Kevin O’Connell

What Minnesota Gives —
No. 97 pick

Jan 1, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; SoFi Stadium is reflected in the Oakley visor of Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

The Dolphins make good on their word of trading Ramsey, reuniting the seven-time Pro Bowler with Kevin O’Connell from the 2021 Rams glory days.

15. Tariq Woolen to Minnesota

What Minnesota Gives —
No. 97 pick

The Seahawks benched Woolen for a game last year, and that pissed him off. His disgruntlement ends via a draft-night deal with Minnesota.

14. Will Levis as the QB2

What Minnesota Gives —
No. 139 Pick

Adofo-Mensah sends his 5th-Rounder to Tennessee for a big-armed QB2 in Levis.

13. A Deal for the Seahawks’ Round 2 Picks

What Minnesota Gets —
Nos. 50 and 52 Picks

Adofo-Mensah’s draft big board recognizes a bevy of talent in Round 2, and that’s Minnesota’s sweet spot in 2025.

12. Greg Newsome II to the Vikings

What Minnesota Gives —
No. 97 pick for Newsome II and a 5th-Rounder

Oct 31, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) looks on before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports.

Similar to the Travis Hunter + Denzel Ward logic above, the Browns draft Hunter, keep Ward, but trade Newsome II. Adofo-Mensah worked in the Browns’ front office when Cleveland drafted Newsome II in 2021.

11. Aidan O’Connell for a 7th-Rounder

What Minnesota Gives —
a 2026 7th-Rounder

The O’Connell boys pair in Minnesota for QB2 duty. An Irish festival of sorts.

10. The Raiders at Pick No. 37

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 37
an Extra 3rd-Rounder

Adofo-Mensah slides down 13 spots, selecting a cornerback like Shavon Revel Jr. or Trey Amos, while picking up an additional 3rd-Rounder.

9. Jaguars Repay Some of the Dallas Turner Deal

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 36
an Extra 3rd-Rounder
an Extra 4th-Rounder

Minnesota returns to the scene of the Dallas Turner trade and snatches a few of its own picks.

8. Titans at No. 35

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 35
Two 4th-Rounders
an Extra 5th-Rounder

vikings offseason — Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon chats with Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah during practice in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK.

The Titans desire an EDGE or wide receiver at No. 24, and do business with Minnesota accordingly.

7. Sam Howell to the Vikings

What Minnesota Gives —
a 2026 6th-Rounder

With Drew Lock in town, the Seahawks no longer need Howell, and he becomes Kevin O’Connell’s next masterclass QB2.

6. The Rams at No. 26

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 26
Pick No. 127 (Round 4)

The Rams hit Adofo-Mensah’s line at No. 24 to draft Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, or Jalen Milroe — if Shedeur Sanders doesn’t fall.

5. Commanders, Pick No. 29

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 29 and 61 for No. 24 and 2026 3rd-Rounder

vikings trade — Feb 1, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters visits the sideline during practice for the American team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports.

Adofo-Mensah knows he’ll have plenty of compensatory picks on the way next year and offloads his 2026 3rd-Rounder for a 2nd-Rounder this time.

4. Browns’ 2nd-Rounder (No. 33)

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 33
Pick No. 94 (Round 3)
Pick No. 104 (Round 4)

Minnesota seizes the first pick on Friday, using the whole overnight to prepare its pick or snowball the pick into more deals.

3. Eagles’ Final Pick of Round 1

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 32
Pick No. 96 (Round 3)
Pick No. 134 (Round 4)

The Eagles move up to No. 24 to draft a Georgia player — that’s what they do — and Minnesota pads Day No. 2 of the draft while still keeping a Round 1 selection.

2. The Bills at No. 30

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 30
Two 4th-Rounders

Jan 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA: Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane watches warmups prior to a game against the Denver Broncos in an AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images.

A cornerback, defensive tackle, or safety is Minnesota’s target at No. 30, and it adds two more 4th-Round dartboard throws on Friday evening.

1. Chiefs’ Pick No. 31

What Minnesota Gets —
Pick No. 31
A 3rd Rounder and 4th-Rounder (for No. 24 and Pick No. 187)

The Chiefs want an offensive lineman like Tyler Booker or Donovan Jackson and choose Minnesota as the trade partner.

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