Vikings get multiple picks on proposed draft day for trade with NFC rival – Home

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Getty Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on during a news conference to introduce Kevin O’Connell as the new head coach at the TCO Performance Center on February 17, 2022 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in an interesting position, and presumably one of significant power and maneuverability, as this year’s NFL Draft approaches.

A draft-day trade proposal submitted by Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport on Monday, April 18, suggests the Vikings can move up if they drop in the first round and help an NFC rival secure their quarterback of the future.

Under Davenport’s proposal, the Vikings would send the New Orleans Saints the 12th overall pick in exchange for the Saints’ 16th overall pick, along with their second-round pick (49th overall). The deal only works, however, if a handful of other franchises select the callers before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell puts the Vikings on the clock.

The Vikings could be in a bind. If the top quarterbacks come off the board on April 28, then Minnesota’s 12th overall pick could be highly coveted by teams they pick later in the round looking to the future under center.

If there is a race and four top 10 picks are taken, then the Vikes will probably make the pick themselves. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

The guess here is that things lie somewhere in the middle, that, say, three callers are gone by the time the Vikes follow the clock.

In this case, the team could expect an extra first. But if the Saints offer the first of their first two and their second round, Minnesota would gain an additional top-50 pick and only drop back four spots. The player they wanted at No. 12 could easily still be there.

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Vikings looking at the cornerback with the first pick, wherever it falls

Getty ImagesWashington Huskies cornerback Trent McDuffie looks on before a game against the UCLA Bruins at Husky Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Whether the Vikings make their first-round pick with the 12th pick, the 16th pick or some other number, the odds are good that they’ll use him to improve their secondary.

About two in five NFL mock drafts project Minnesota will select junior cornerback Derek Stingley from Louisiana State University (LSU) with their first-round pick, according to Christopher Gates of SB Nation’s Daily Norseman. Those predictions have held up despite Stingley suffering a foot injury that limited him to playing just three games in 2021.

However, draft analyst Tony Pauline appeared on the April 11 edition of Pro Football Network’s Draft Insiders podcast and reported that the Vikings have University of Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie rated as highly as Stingley. Pauline also said that Minnesota would be willing to return to the draft for the right price.

Vikings Thin At Cornerback Heading For 2022 Season

GettyMinnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson walks onto the field before a game against the Cleveland Browns at US Bank Stadium on October 3, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Minnesota’s defense tied for 21st in the NFL last season, according to metrics used by Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Based on PFF individual player ratings, the Vikings’ best cornerback in 2021 who was still on the current list was Cameron Dantzler, who had an overall defensive rating of 73.8. Dantzler appeared in 14 games for the Vikings, starting just seven of those contests. He had 53 tackles, eight pass defenses, one interception and one forced fumble, according to Pro Football Reference (PFR).

Second on PFF’s list of top-performing Vikings cornerbacks in 2021 was 11-year veteran Patrick Peterson, with a 63.0 overall defensive rating. Peterson was an eight-time Pro-Bowl player and a three-time All-Pro selection with the Arizona Cardinals, but hasn’t earned an honor since 2018. He started 13 games for the Vikings last season, during which he recorded 45 tackles. he defended five passes, made an interception and scored a defensive touchdown, according to PFR.

Peterson, who will play next season at age 32, signed a one-year deal worth $4 million this offseason to return to Minnesota.

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Vikings get multiple picks on proposed draft day for trade with NFC rival – Home