Vikings Trade Theory with Bills Emerges
A dirty little secret about Minnesota Vikings football? The team’s general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, loves to wheel and deal via trade, and with his team possessing just four picks entering the 2025 NFL Draft, the young executive might be up to his old tricks.
Vikings Trade Theory with Bills Emerges
Minnesota owns the 24th overall pick next month after a 14-3 season in 2024, and trading down would assuredly funnel more picks into the draft hopper.
According to NFL.com, Adofo-Mensah might do business via trade with the Buffalo Bills.
The MIN-BUF Trade from Chad Reuter
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter published an article last week detailing all possible Round 1 trades. Minnesota and Buffalo got the nod, featuring a deal that could resemble this:
Vikings Get —
Pick No. 30 (R1)
Pick No. 109 (R4)
Pick No. 132 (R4)
Bills Get —
Pick No. 24 (R1)
Reuter explained, “The Bills have been aggressive in the first round in recent years, trading up for Josh Allen, tight end Dalton Kincaid and cornerback Kaiir Elam. They have seven Day 3 picks to use to jump up the board for a game-changing talent — one who might even get them over the hump and into the Super Bowl.”
“In this scenario, I could see them targeting a receiver (Isaiah Bond or Emeka Egbuka), defensive tackle (Kenneth Grant or Derrick Harmon) or secondary help (Nick Emmanwori or Azareye’h Thomas).”
Minnesota is tentatively expected to draft a cornerback, interior offensive lineman, defensive tackle, or safety with its first pick of the event.
Reuter added, “The Vikings head into the draft with just four picks because of various trades, including one for edge rusher Dallas Turner in last year’s first round. Buffalo, Philadelphia and other teams aware of that fact might be hounding general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah for the 24th pick.”
“Minnesota adds two fourth-round selections to its war chest is still be able to select a much-needed defensive back at 30th overall.”
Then What in Round 1?
Freshly owning Pick No. 30, Minnesota would still have some sweet options in Round 1, along with two 4th-Rounders for a deal sweetener.
At No. 30, Adofo-Mensah could explore these draft options:
- Trey Amos (CB)
- Tyler Booker (iOL)
- Maxwell Hairston (CB)
- Derrick Harmon (DT)
- Walter Nolen (DT)
- Shavon Revel Jr. (CB)
- Malaki Starks (S)
- Grey Zabel (iOL)
That list, of course, is not infallible, but it does represent the current Consensus Big Board with the Vikings’ long-term roster needs at No. 30.
Many believe Minnesota will draft another defensive tackle after signing free agents Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen three weeks ago. Adofo-Mensah said last month that his team must torment opposing quarterbacks with four defenders up front.
Adofo-Mensah said to KFAN, “We know what we need to improve. We’re going to be intentional about attacking the things we need to get better at. That’s not just gonna be one thing — we’re going to really aggressively attack it because we believe in turning potential weaknesses into strengths, and that’s how we’re approaching the offseason.”
“To play January football, there’s a certain way you’ve got to play. You’ve got to be able to control the ball, and be able to get after the passer with just four. We need to get better and will,” the Vikings boss also told reporters at the NFL Combine.
How about Round 4?
In Round 4, equipped with the two picks from the Bills, the pecking order is more of a crapshoot.
But Minnesota could explore these players at Nos. 109 and 132:
- Zy Alexander (CB)
- Denzel Burke (CB)
- Jamaree Caldwell (DT)
- Dylan Fairchild (iOL)
- Miles Frazier (iOL)
- Zah Frazier (CB)
- D.J. Giddens (RB)
- Troy Horton (WR)
- Devin Neal (RB)
- Dorian Strong (CB)
- Nohl Williams (CB)
Option at No. 24 without a Trade:
Finally, if Adofo-Mensah sticks-and-picks at No. 24, conducting no trades, these men make the most sense at the moment:
- Jahdae Barron (CB)
- Tyler Booker (iOL)
- Nick Emmanwori (S)
- Kenneth Grant (DT)
- Derrick Harmon (DT)
- Walter Nolen (DT)
- Malaki Starks (S)
- Grey Zabel (iOL)
The NFL Draft is 24 days away and will occur in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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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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