Patriots May Price Vikings Out of Trade for No. 3 Pick: Report.
The Minnesota Vikings appear interested in trading for a franchise quarterback in this year’s NFL draft, but there has to be an upward limit on the cost of even the biggest blockbuster moves.
Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston reported on the April 5 edition of the “Tom Curran Patriots Talk Podcast” that three first-round picks from the Vikings — Nos. 11 and 23 this year, as well as a 2025 first — will be well short of what the New England Patriots will require to move off the No. 3 overall selection later this month.
“From what I’m hearing, it’s going to take a lot more than that for the Patriots to be moved off their spot, because they as a team collectively understand the opportunity that these three quarterbacks represent at the top of the draft,” Curran said.
Patriots Hold Significant Leverage at No. 3, Even if Vikings Can Make Trade 1 or 2 Picks Lower
The three quarterbacks in question are Jayden Daniels of LSU, Drake Maye of North Carolina and J.J. McCarthy of Michigan. One of the three will likely end up the selection of the Washington Commanders at No. 2 overall, following the Chicago Bears at No. 1, who most draft analysts expect will take Caleb Williams of USC in the top spot.
The Arizona Cardinals are potential trade suitors for the Vikings at No. 4, while the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5) make the most sense of any team as a trade partner in the top five. However, what makes the Patriots’ position so much stronger is that by dealing with New England, Minnesota can guarantee itself a top-four QB in this class while also ensuring a choice between two of the three aforementioned prospects.
A deal with the Cardinals guarantees whichever of the four signal-callers remains, but doesn’t allow the Vikings any wiggle room to choose their specific guy — even if that decision would come down to a relative splitting of hairs. A trade with the Chargers leaves open the possibility of an enormous offer from a team like the Denver Broncos (No. 12) or the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) to the Cardinals, which could result in Minnesota trading up to No. 5 and missing out on all of the top four quarterbacks anyway.
The same is true for any team that might be interested in trading up for a QB, which is what affords New England the leverage it’s clearly using by spreading the word to reporters like Curran that three first-round picks — from the Vikings or anyone else — won’t get the job done.
