VIKINGS REPORTEDLY HAVE QB CONTINGENCY PLAN IF TRADE-UP FALLS THROUGH
One of the worst-kept secrets heading into Thursday’s NFL Draft is that the Minnesota Vikings are trying desperately to trade up for North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.
With USC’s Caleb Williams and LSU’s Jayden Daniels expected to go No. 1 and 2 overall to the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders, respectively, Minnesota would likely have to come up from 11th overall to third, where the New England Patriots will presumably take Maye if they don’t trade out of their pick.
If the Vikings can’t get into the top three, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports states they could have a backup plan – one that doesn’t include Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
“A very well-connected league source told Yahoo Sports they firmly believe that if the Patriots take Maye, the Vikings are comfortable standing down in trade talks and using one of their two first-round picks — either No. 11 or No. 23 — to select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix,” Robinson wrote. “It’s worth noting here that Nix had a private workout for the Vikings earlier this month.”
After the Vikings acquired the No. 23 overall pick from the Houston Texans last month, many presumed it would be extra ammunition for a trade-up. But if Robinson’s intel is true, they would be better positioned to fill multiple needs in Round 1 instead of mortgaging three first-rounders and more to try and outbid several other teams also looking to move up.
Minnesota has glaring needs at both defensive tackle and cornerback and settling for Nix would create flexibility at either pick No. 11 or 23.
For example, if the Vikings feel they can land Nix at No. 23 overall, they could take a premier defensive player at No. 11 overall, such as Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, Alabama CB Terrion Arnold or Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell.
If the Vikings don’t want to gamble on Nix being around late in Round 1, they could grab Nix with the 11th overall pick and look at either CB (Clemson’s Nate Wiggins and Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry should still be on the board) or DT (Illinois’ Jer’Zahn Newton or Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro seem about right for this range.)
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