Making the transfer 41 days earlier than the draft opens alerts that it may very well be step certainly one of a multi-phase course of because the Vikings stalk their subsequent quarterback.
The commerce is paying homage to 2016, when the Philadelphia Eagles did a double-jump to maneuver from No. 13 total to No. 2 to draft Carson Wentz — first buying and selling to No. 8 (Miami), then packaging that improved choice to Cleveland for the second choose.
Friday’s commerce provides the Vikings two first-round picks in 2024, No. 11 total and No. 23 total, which they may use to maneuver for a quarterback. After Kirk Cousins departed for Atlanta, the Vikings inked Sam Darnold to a one-year contract. The membership is in play to discover a long-term resolution on the place.
The query is whether or not anybody atop the draft could be keen to play ball. The Bears seem poised to draft Caleb Williams. The Commanders at No. 2 cleared the deck to draft a QB with the Sam Howell commerce. Would the Patriots at No. 3 eschew a signal-caller and make a commerce with Minnesota for a number of first-rounders? If all three take a QB does Minnesota nonetheless commerce as much as seize doubtlessly the fourth-best signal-caller on the board?
Getting one other first-rounder provides the Vikings ammo, no matter how issues shake out.
For Houston, the trade-back is a reversal from final yr once they traded up on draft day to pick out Will Anderson instantly behind C.J. Stroud. By buying and selling Minnesota the No. 23 choose, acquired from Cleveland within the Deshaun Watson deal, they’re recouping additional picks, together with a invaluable second-rounder in 2025. The Texans drop out of Day 1 of the 2024 draft however have three Day 2 alternatives.