Mel Kiper has Draft Advice for the Vikings

Jul 26, 2013; Mankato, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings helmet sits in the grass during training camp at Minnesota State University. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper held a conference call with reporters today, and he had some pretty candid advice for the Minnesota Vikings.

If the Vikings aren’t planning to take a quarterback with the 8th overall pick, they should look to trade down in the draft.

Kiper’s advice isn’t completely original, as it’s been thought for months in Minnesota that Rick Spielman would probably want to obtain extra picks in such a deep draft class.

With it looking less and less likely that an elite prospect like Khalil Mack will fall to the Vikings, trading back may allow Spielman to squeeze maximum value from his draft class.

While top defensive prospects such as linebacker CJ Mosley and cornerback Justin Gilbert have been mocked to the Vikings previously, neither is seen as a lock for a top 10 selection.

Spielman will likely still be able to grab one of those players in the teens while acquiring extra picks for the rest of the draft.

That is, if the Vikings are not sold on any of these quarterback prospects at pick No. 8. If the Vikings elect to trade back, they could always use their extra draft picks to move back into the first round to grab a quarterback they like.

It’s actually beneficial for teams to come back into the first round for their quarterbacks, because then their rookie contracts contain a fifth year option.

And the way the quarterback draft class is being talked about now, it seems very likely that a highly rated signal called could slip to the back end of the first round. Who that is, is still anyone’s guess.

What do you think Vikings fans? Do you agree with Kiper or would you rather the team just stay at No. 8? Sound off in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @Goatmam102!