The Minnesota Vikings made a significant trade with the Houston Texans in March, acquiring the No. 23 and No. 232 overall picks in exchange for the No. 44 and No. 188 overall picks, along with a second-round selection in the 2025 Draft. Initially, many believed the move was solely driven by the Vikings’ desire to acquire multiple first-round picks to trade up for a quarterback. With top prospects like Bryce Young and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy likely to be selected in the top five, Minnesota would have needed to move up from their original position at No. 11 overall to approximately No. 4 or No. 5. Such a leap would likely have cost them both first-round picks, plus additional compensation.
Mock drafts by analysts generally indicated that the Vikings were aiming to trade with either the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 or the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5. However, a recent rumor suggests that the Vikings may not trade up after all. According to NFL Draft notes gathered by sources, the Cardinals are driving a hard bargain to move back and are “more than happy” to select Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4. The Chargers, on the other hand, have explored moving down from No. 5 but are content to stay put. This has led to speculation that the Vikings are “more likely” to keep their No. 11 and No. 23 picks, although they continue to explore all options.
This could simply be an attempt by the Vikings to create a smokescreen, but it is also worth considering the value of having two first-round picks. At No. 11 overall, the Vikings could potentially land a quarterback prospect like Oregon’s Bo Nix. While Nix has not received the same level of hype as McCarthy or Cade Maye, he is still a viable option for teams looking to take a more measured approach to quarterback development. Nix may also be capable of starting on day one, but his performance in OTAs, training camp, and the preseason will ultimately determine his readiness.
Teams may hope for a quarterback like McCarthy to be NFL-ready, but that is not always the case. The Vikings’ possession of the No. 11 and No. 23 overall picks means they could potentially select two talented players, both of whom could potentially start on day one. The value of having two first-round picks is undeniable.
Minnesota is showing intelligence in reconsidering its strategy of trading up and giving away too much draft capital for a quarterback who may or may not succeed. Most teams engage in smokescreen tactics to prevent other teams from discerning their true plans. It is possible that the information obtained by NFL Draft notes is intentional. Regardless, the fact remains that the Vikings need a quarterback and will likely need to make a trade to move ahead of other quarterback-needy teams, such as the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, and Las Vegas Raiders, on Thursday.
