The Minnesota Vikings are in a strategic position to climb up to either the fourth or fifth spot in the upcoming NFL draft with the intention of selecting a quarterback. However, they have the resources to potentially aim for an even higher pick.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN analyzed the Vikings’ recent trade with the Houston Texans on March 16, which saw Minnesota acquiring the No. 23 pick, and assessed its implications for the team’s future quarterback situation. Barnwell noted that the most logical move for the Vikings would still involve a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers, who currently hold the fifth overall pick.
Yet, if the Vikings are open to parting ways with either wide receiver Justin Jefferson or left tackle Christian Darrisaw, they could potentially leverage those assets to move into the top three and target one of the top three quarterback prospects in the 2024 draft class: Caleb Williams from USC, Jayden Daniels from LSU, or Drake Maye from UNC.
Barnwell pointed out that the New England Patriots have needs at wide receiver and left tackle, positions where the Vikings have standout players. However, trading away either Jefferson or Darrisaw as part of a move could potentially hinder the new quarterback’s development before even hitting the field. While offering picks No. 11 and No. 23 wouldn’t be sufficient to secure the third pick, a package including those picks along with Jefferson or Darrisaw would likely be deemed too costly. Should the Vikings pursue a deal with the Patriots, it would likely involve their two first-round picks and a future first-rounder as the foundation of the trade.
Trade With Patriots Would Represent Vikings’ Move for Either Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye
While Barnwell concluded on Saturday that acquiring the top three would require Minnesota to offer three first-round picks, this overlooks his prior evaluation of Jefferson’s trade value in October. In his assessment from that time, Barnwell suggested that while Jefferson might not fetch three first-round picks in a trade, the Vikings could potentially secure two first-rounders along with a mid-round pick or a starting-caliber veteran if they chose to rebuild and trade him.
Considering the circumstances, trading Jefferson, who may not be thrilled with Kirk Cousins’ departure and Sam Darnold’s addition on a one-year deal, along with the No. 11 pick, should be sufficient for Minnesota to move into the third spot through a deal with the Patriots.
However, this move would only be logical if the Vikings are confident about the player they would secure at No. 3, likely Maye or Daniels, and if that player ranks as the best quarterback on their draft board or at least second-best behind Williams, who is highly anticipated to be selected by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick.
Insider Predicts Vikings Trade to No. 5, Draft J.J. McCarthy
Even in this scenario, trading Jefferson to acquire the best quarterback on their draft board, whether it’s Daniels or Maye, might not be the optimal move for the Vikings if the player they can potentially draft at No. 5, such as J.J. McCarthy, is projected to have similar NFL talent.
Field Yates of ESPN forecasted on Friday that Minnesota will ultimately choose McCarthy as their preferred quarterback and utilize the No. 11 and No. 23 picks to move up to the fifth selection to draft him. However, Yates believes that this trade will require the Vikings to give up all three picks that Barnwell suggested the team could utilize to move into the third slot.
“In a rapidly evolving quarterback landscape, I anticipate the Vikings trading picks No. 11 and No. 23, in addition to a 2025 first-rounder, to the Chargers in exchange for the No. 5 selection,” Fields stated, emphasizing that McCarthy would be Minnesota’s choice in this scenario.
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