Former Vikings GM Suggests Minnesota Will “Overpay” to Pick a QB
Josh Frey
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The 2024 NFL Draft is less than 20 days away, and many are anticipating that the Minnesota Vikings will target a quarterback when the event arrives.
However, acquiring that quarterback more than likely will cost the Vikings more than simply a single draft selection. Minnesota probably will have to trade up in order to acquire that quarterback. Former Vikings GM Rick Spielman thinks that Minnesota is setting themselves up to overpay for a QB prospect.
Former Vikings GM Thinks Minnesota Will “Overpay” in Draft
Spielman recently went on CBS Sports‘ With the First Pick podcast, and he had the following to say about a prospective trade up for the Vikings:
“They’re going to have to give (Nos. 11 and 23) and their 2025 first, plus some more draft capital. I think J.J. (McCarthy) will be a good pro, but Minnesota will overpay to get him. At this point, they don’t have a choice.”
It certainly is possible that the Vikings will need to give up that 2025 first-round pick in order to draft their quarterback. This would almost become a certainty if other teams like the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders become aggressive in their own pursuits of a young QB prospect.
A need to add their 2025 first-round pick could become a tricky proposition for the Vikings. Of course, fans will remember that they already moved their 2025 second-round pick in order to acquire the No. 23 selection from the Houston Texans. Houston promptly moved that pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for WR Stefon Diggs.
As a result of their trade, the Vikings would be left without a first or second-round pick in 2025, meaning their first selection next spring would come in the third round. It would also mean the Vikings could end up heading into that draft with only five selections, though Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is known for swinging many trades during the draft, so that could still change regardless.
Finally, Minnesota losing that 2025 first-round pick wouldn’t necessarily be as painful for one sole reason: the Vikings are slated to have a pretty large chunk of cap space to utilize. As of now, Minnesota is slated to have $102.4 million in cap space next spring, which ranks fourth in the NFL.
Of course, a portion of that will be gone if/when Justin Jefferson signs a massive contract extension, but the point remains, the Vikings are poised to be big spenders in free agency next season. They may not necessarily need top end draft picks if they are able to fill their needs via free agency.
In the end, it may come down to what the Vikings value more. Do they want to try and set up themselves up for a long term QB, or is flexibility in this year’s draft and the future more important? We will soon find out.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.