Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings Suddenly Have Trade Partners Aplenty in Top 10

Originally posted on Minnesota Sports Fan
By Eric Strack | Last updated 4/25/24

5:30 p.m. CDT — The Minnesota Vikings are trying to get into the top 10 so they can get their QB of the future, but last we heard things were “tense” inside their draft room and one report even went as far as saying they were “moving into panic mode”.

But as we get even closer to the draft beginning, it’s becoming more and more clear that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could have plenty of trade partners in the top-10, not just teams that have been reported for weeks.

Minnesota Vikings could have lots of trade options in top 10

According to Jeremy Fowler (ESPN), every team ahead of the Vikings from No. 3 (Patriots) to No. 10 (Jets) are someone open to trading their pick. I’ve laid it out a little bit more, here, but it wouldn’t be all that surprising if teams started getting much more reasonable, as we get closer to the clock actually starting.

After asking around, pretty clear much of the top 10 is at least moderately open for business on a potential trade-back:

3. Patriots: Open
4. Cardinals: Open
5. Chargers: 7-Eleven open
7. Titans: Willing to listen (soft open)
8. Falcons: Open
9. Bears: Open
10. Jets: Soft open
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 25, 2024

Darren Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North) seems to agree with Fowler, almost making it seem like the Vikings might have the shell of a deal already in place with the Chargers (No. 5) and Falcons (No. 8), if they can’t get up to No. 3.

Plan A: Move up for Maye and Plan B: Landing McCarthy, with a trade up to 8 or 5 in play.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) April 25, 2024

It’s also being reported by Mike Florio (ProFootballFocus) that the Vikings might be able to sit tight at No. 11 and still land JJ McCarthy. He believes the Giants QB hype is a smokescreen…

As the draft approaches, the current expectation is that the Vikings will stay put — and that Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be on the board when they’re on the clock.

Some have connected the Giants to McCarthy, too. That is believed to have been a smokescreen.
Mike Florio – ProFootballTalk

Reminder: The NFL Draft will begin at 7 p.m. CDT. Currently, the Minnesota Vikings own the No. 11 and No. 23 overall picks in the first round and ZERO picks in day 2.