ESPN Agrees With Popular Vikings Draft Idea
This year’s draft will kick off with the first round on April 24th. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has not delivered in that event in his previous three offseasons, although it should be noted that his sample size is still relatively small, and the jury is still out on his two highest-drafted guys (Dallas Turner and J.J. McCarthy).
ESPN Agrees With Popular Vikings Draft Idea
Still, he is under some pressure to find contributors in the draft. The young executive has been a master at acquiring talent during the free agency periods, but good roster building needs results in the draft, too.
On the 24th, he has the 24th overall pick to make another splash. He can go in numerous directions in his fourth draft after fixing the pressing needs in free agency, but the lack of draft capital is a little concerning entering the draft season. Only four picks are in his bag, but ESPN’s draft analyst Matt Miller thinks that number will ascend.
In ESPN’s latest draft buzz article, he noted in the segment “What we’re hearing about the Vikings’ draft:”
“The Vikings have only four picks in this draft right now, making them a prime trade-back candidate in Round 1. This would be an easy way for them to pick up more draft capital, especially if there are teams wanting to get back into Round 1 for a quarterback or a falling pass rusher.”
To accumulate more draft capital, a trade is the logical move. However, it’s not a given anyone would want to move up the board. Possibly, a promising quarterback could be available, and someone might want to be willing to trade back into the first round.
The Giants or Browns are prime candidates for that with their early second-round selections. Perhaps the Bills would love to get their hands on a wideout or the Chiefs on a tackle and are willing to give up their picks in the 30s?
Adofo-Mensah used that strategy in 2022, trading his 12th overall pick to the Lions in exchange for multiple picks, including 32 and 34. Ultimately, he came out of the draft with Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. as his premium assets, but those turned into massive failures. But that was more a problem of picking the wrong guys rather than trading down the board.
In 2023, he picked with his organic 23rd pick, bringing Jordan Addison to the Twin Cities, and last year, he traded up twice in the first round. It’s hard to notice any pattern from the past three drafts, but expecting a trade-down from a team with only four draft picks is still reasonable.
Miller offered a guess for the position to target should the Vikings remain with their 24th draft slot, “Should Minnesota decide to stay and pick at No. 24, cornerback and safety are areas it could address.”
At cornerback, Adofo-Mensah re-signed Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr. to a lucrative contract, cementing him as the team’s CB1 going forward. On the opposite side, newcomer Isaiah Rodgers is the presumed starter, and Mekhi Blackmon is another player who could play a role.
Harrison Smith could be in his final year at safety in a new pairing with Joshua Metellus. Following Cam Bynum’s departure, Theo Jackson is the next man up.
Both spots could use an infusion of youth, and Brian Flores could also find some room for an immediate contributor. Cornerback and safety are commonly used positions in Vikings mock drafts this year.
It’s quite hard to predict this year. Other analysts suggest that a guard or defensive tackle could be targeted with Minnesota’s top pick.
We’ll know more in two weeks.
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