NFL Draft trade scenarios: How Vikings can get the QB they want

Carmen Vitali

NFC North Reporter

A couple of weeks ago, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shook up the tail end of free agency by trading with the Houston Texans to acquire the No. 23 pick of this year’s draft, thereby giving Minnesota two first-round picks.

After losing quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, it doesn’t take an NFL insider to figure out what the Vikings are trying to do. They are trying to arm themselves with the capital to trade up and grab a quarterback in one of the best classes in years.

Of course, it takes two to tango, and Minnesota isn’t the only team left in need of a quarterback. In fact, they aren’t even the only team in the market to trade up. That likely means that it will take more — much more ­— than just the No. 11 and No. 23 pick to move into the top five to take one of the best quarterbacks in the class.

It doesn’t mean Minnesota won’t do it. I fully expect them to try, if they aren’t already. From sources I’ve talked to, the Vikings, and coach Kevin O’Connell in particular, like Drake Maye, the former UNC quarterback with a high floor and tremendous pocket presence. Maye would be a shoe-in to the Shanahan offense that O’Connell runs and would be in great hands between O’Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, both former NFL signal-callers themselves. 

But will Minnesota be able to trade up high enough to get him? Will Maye fall a couple of spots further than previously thought? 

I think there’s a world where Maye is gone, but the Vikings like J.J. McCarthy as well. Though McCarthy wasn’t asked to do a lot in a national championship offense at Michigan and therefore lacks some experience, he has traits that have him climbing up draft boards all over the league. Minnesota could be one of them, and with the aforementioned coaches, plus weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones and a couple of great bookend tackles on…


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Publish date : 2024-03-28 22:33:00

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