With the first two picks in the NFL Draft pretty much set in stone, attention has turned to what the Vikings will do with the third pick in the draft.
Attention has focused on USC tackle Matt Kalil, although the Vikings could also use LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. With those kinds of options, as well as the presence of the coveted Alabama running back Trent Richardson and Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the Vikings could look to trade down to pick up more picks while still getting a player they like. In an interview with Pro Football Weekly, general manager Rick Spielman expressed openness with that course of action.
“There are times we have been in (the war room) and we’ve done deals on the clock,” Spielman said, “It’s an unknown, but you’re prepared for both ways. We’ll be ready and we’ll have a good idea of what we think the value of that third pick is.”
The Vikings could take a page from the Rams’ playbook and make a deal before the draft, but they’ll likely reap a bigger reward by waiting until close to the moment of truth. Letting everyone know they are willing to deal while sifting through offers up to the last minute doesn’t hurt them because they know (and are presumably happy with) who they’ll take if they don’t move the pick.
While it makes no sense for the Vikings to close them off to the possibility of a trade, they also can’t just pull the trigger without a real plan of what they’ll wind up with after making the deal. The key to any trade would be the Vikings falling to a place where they can still get a player that satisfies their need to improve next season. Getting a slew of picks is nice, but they need more high-end talent in order to get back to being a playoff team.