With two picks in the first round of the draft (No. 23 and No. 25 overall), the Minnesota Vikings have the ammunition available to move up in the first round if they so desire.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, it’s a decision the Vikings are already considering.
Per Rapaport, the Vikings are targeting help at wide receiver and cornerback in the draft after two of their best moved on to Seattle in Percy Harvin and Antoine Winfield. A move up in the draft would likely be to target a wide receiver. West Virginia’s Tavon Austin could be a suitable replacement for Harvin if the Vikings can find a trade partner to deal with. Austin likely won’t be available by the time Minnesota drafts in the 20’s.
However, Rapaport suggested the Vikings may not be willing to part with their second first round pick to make the move. With needs at corner and linebacker, losing both first round picks to move up may prove too great a cost. Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, Washington cornerback Desmond Trufant or Boise State cornerback Jamar Taylor could be possible fits for the Vikings at No. 25 overall.
With the general consensus on the draft being that there isn’t much difference in talent between players in the Top 50, many teams will likely be looking to trade down if possible believing they can get a player of similar ability later while acquiring more picks in the process. If Minnesota truly wants to trade up, they likely won’t have trouble finding a partner. The question will be if the price is too much for the Vikings to stomach.