3 Round 1 Draft Day Scenarios for the Vikings & Bonus Mock!

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When the Vikings enter the 2019 NFL Draft GM Rick Spielman will have plenty of options on what he can do in Rd 1.  He can trade up, trade down or stand pat at pick #18.  This is going to be determined by how the board begins to fall likely after the first 9-10 picks.   It is highly likely that 4 QBs will go in the top 10 as QB needy teams almost always trade up to get “their guys” that will lead them for the foreseeable future.  That will push highly ranked non QB prospects further down in the draft for non QB needy teams to select.  We’ll take a look today at some alternatives to the Vikings just standing pat at pick #18.  We will use a link to the Trade Value Chart here for reference on any mock trades suggested.

Here are 3 draft day scenarios I could see playing out for the Vikings in Rd 1

#1 Trading up for T/G Jonah Williams

Jonah Williams is considered by some to be the #1 OL prospect in this draft class and is considered by others to have “too short” of arms to play OT (despite the fact his arms are longer than Andre Dillard’s who stands only 1 inch taller than the 6’4 Williams).  If enough teams that would prefer to draft a pure OT and not someone who they possibly see as a Guard pass on Williams he could fall anywhere from pick #10-#15.  If he does fall into this range I could see Rick Spielman making a call to move up and draft him.  Williams could play LG for a year and then kick out to LT in 2020 if the Vikings choose to move on from current LT Riley Reiff.  It fills a need now and in the future with a grade A player who is likely a Pro Bowler on Day 1.  Can’t fault them if they move up to take Jonah.

What they would need to give up?

A move to #10 could look like this:

“Rd 1#18 plus CB Trae Waynes for Rd 1 #10

With GM Rick Spielman stating that CB Mike Hughes is ahead of schedule in his recovery and Hughes back at off season workouts already running around again it could mean he is ready to rock n roll and that a Waynes trade could be back on the table.  Waynes value is probably equal to a 2nd rd pick and it would take a 2nd rd pick normally to move up from pick #18 to pick #10 according to the Draft Trade value chart.  It’s possible the Vikings could squeeze an additional late Rd pick from Denver but its also possible they would only offer pick #10.

A move to #15 could look like this:

“Rd 1#18 plus a 2020 Rd 3 pick for Rd 1 #15

A move up from pick #18 to pick #15 would be much less costly.  A 2020 Rd 3 pick should do the trick and the Vikings have one to spare since they will likely be receiving an extra Rd 3 compensatory pick in 2020 for losing Sheldon Richardson in Free Agency this off season.  So they could potentially move up 3 spots here without giving up any of this year’s draft capital.

#2 Trading down in Rd 1

If the Vikings are on the clock at pick #18 and there are several Rd 1 graded O-lineman that have been linked to them that they like still on the board they could choose to drop down a few spots and still feel confident that they can choose one of those guys.

Example:

Cody Ford, Garrett Bradbury, Chris Lindstrom & Dalton Risner are all available at pick #18.  Vikings trade down with Baltimore at #22 (who let’s say is looking to leapfrog Seattle & Pittsburgh to make sure they get WR DK Metcalf).  Vikings take one of the remaining OL at pick #22.

What they would receive as compensation?

A Trade with Baltimore down 4 spots from Rd 1 #18 to Rd 1 #22 would land the Vikings the Rd 3 #21 pick from Baltimore according the trade value chart.  The Vikings might be asked to throw in a later Rd pick to seal the deal but they also may not have to if the Ravens are desperate enough to move up in this scenario.

#3 Taking a Non OL at pick #18 & then trading back up into the bottom of Rd 1 for an OL.

This situation would have the Vikings walking away with two 1st rd picks.  In his interview earlier today with the media GM Rick Spielman mentioned 2 things.  #1- He said the Vikings would not pass up a great player with Pro Bowl potential just to fill a need.  So if say for example TE Noah Fant or DE Montez Sweat fell to them at pick #18 the Vikings could take that player as the “Best Player Available”.  #2-Rick Spielman also followed that statement up by saying that he also understands that certain positions in the draft have a certain level of depth to them so in some cases if you don’t take “xyz player” at a certain point and you still want him you may have to trade back up to get him and that is something he is willing to do in this draft because given the Vikings tight salary cap situation he needs players that can contribute right away coming from this draft class.  That leads me to believe he would trade back up for an OL if he took at non OL at pick #18.  Players like Kyle Rudolph, Everson Griffen, Trae Waynes or even Stephen Weatherly could be used as trade bait to help the Vikings move back into the end of Rd 1 from Pick #50.

What would they need to give up?

Example:

Pick Rd 1#18 TE Noah Fant

Trade TE Kyle Rudolph, Rd 2 pick #50 & 2020 Rd 4 to New England for Rd 1 #32 

Pick Rd 1#32 OT Dalton Risner

This situation would save the Vikings cap space, allow them to sign their picks and perhaps a veteran contributor post draft and upgrade 2 positions on offense while locking in 2 young players on cheap contracts for the next 5 seasons.

Those are my 3 possible trade scenarios for the Vikings.  Which do you like best?  Do you prefer they just stay at pick #18 & pick #50 and not move around at all? Let me know in the comments.

*****BONUS MOCK*****

Rd 1#18 TE Noah Fant Iowa

Trade Rd 2 #18, 2020 Rd 4 pick & TE Kyle Rudolph to New England for Rd 1 #32

Rd 1 #32 G Chris Lindstrom Boston College

Trade CB Trae Waynes to Indianapolis for Rd 2 #27

Rd 2 #27 Chase Winovich DE Michigan State

Rd 3 #17 CB Isaiah Johnson Houston

Trade Rd 4 #18 to Philadelphia for Rd 4 #36 & Rd 5 #25

Rd 4 #36 Isaiah Prince OT Ohio State

Rd 5 #25 Ryquell Armstead RB Temple

Rd 6 #17 Penny Hart WR/RS Georgia State

Rd 6 #36 Matt Gay K

Rd 7 #33 Ryan Connelly LB

Rd 7 #36 Saquan Hampton S

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