Movin’ On Up

The Minnesota Vikings traded two second round picks (and a late-round pick) to the Houston Texans for a first-round pick (and a late-round pick). The particulars:

Vikings receive:

First-round pick (23rd overall)

Seventh-round pick (232nd overall)

Texans receive: 

Second-round pick (42nd overall)

Sixth-round pick (188th overall)

2025 Second-round pick

The Vikings now have two first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Why would the Minnesota Vikings make such a trade of draft picks more than a month before the draft? It makes no sense to make this move to target a particular player, or players, at #23. Targeting a player, or players, in March? That’s the sort of move a team makes during the draft. The only reason to make this trade now is to add the necessary draft capital to make a second even more significant move to the top of the draft. The Vikings are movin’ on up to secure their quarterback. Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is cooking now. By the various draft trade value charts, the two-first rounders are enough to get to the #3 pick held by the New England Patriots and an additional top pick away from the #2 pick held by the Washington Commanders. Both teams are also looking for quarterbacks. Would either be willing to give up their best shot at one for the Vikings bounty of picks? That remains to be seen but I don’t see Adofo-Mensah making this trade with the Texans now if there isn’t a good chance of the bigger trade later. He’s clearly spoken to his counterparts with the Commanders, Patriots, Arizona Cardinals (at #4), and perhaps Los Angeles Chargers (at #5). I believe that the #2 or #3 pick is the target. The trade with the Texans was an aggressive move. The timing of it also alerts the rest of the league of their intentions. It’s not like they need any alerting. Everyone knows that the Vikings need a quarterback. They’ve been looking for their next franchise quarterback since Fran Tarkenton retired in 1978. My immediate reaction to the trade was that a second trade was also going to come in advance of the draft. Mainly because I don’t think that the Vikings make first move without firm plans to make the second. For my own sanity, my hope is that the second trade comes soon. I won’t rest easy until the Vikings secure the pick that gets them their quarterback. 

Now, which of the quarterbacks intrigues the Vikings the most?

Jayden Daniels

Drake Maye

J.J. McCarthy

I’m not including Caleb Williams because I’m assuming that he’s the pick of the Chicago Bears at #1. I consider that pick and that quarterback untouchable. My guess is that the Vikings would be thrilled with any of Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy. Rumors have it that Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell likes Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy for his offense. Would Jayden Daniels interest O’Connell if they hold the #2 pick? Who knows? What I do know is that come draft day it’s looking much more likely that the Minnesota Vikings will be selecting near the top of the 2024 NFL Draft.