Los Angeles Rams trade could be good news for Vikings

Oct 3, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) does the gator chomp prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) does the gator chomp prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Rams have pulled off a huge trade with the Tennessee Titans and moved up to the number one spot in the NFL draft.

Thursday morning the Rams announced a blockbuster deal with the Tennessee Titans to move up in the draft from the #15 spot to #1. L.A. sent their first-rounder, two seconds, a third and their 2017 first- and third-round picks to Tennessee in exchange for the #1 overall plus a fourth and a sixth. Most folks think the Rams will use their #1 overall pick to select North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz.

Yes, a Bison quarterback may be about to go #1 overall in the NFL draft. Let that sink in for a second, Minnesota sports fans.

Actually, there’s arguably a reason for Minnesota sports fans to be happy about this trade. This blockbuster deal not only changes things in a huge way for both the Rams and Titans, it also might make it easier for the Vikings to get the wide receiver they want.

Before today, the Rams were sitting at #15 and a lot of experts had them taking a wide receiver, probably Laquon Treadwell of Ole Miss. Many experts also have the Houston Texans taking a receiver at #22. Some mock drafters have Detroit going receiver at #16 but they are in the minority. The New Orleans Saints could also go receiver at #12 though most mocks have them addressing the defense.

And there were the Vikings sitting at #23 very likely looking at two receivers coming off the board before their pick. With the Rams now out of the picture, and the Titans likely not looking to go receiver, the Vikings probably only have to worry about Houston.

On Wednesday I asked if the Vikings should look at trading up to give themselves a better chance of getting that one receiver they covet, if in fact they have one player rated above the others. That would have been an iffy proposition before, but now I think it’s not unreasonable. It shouldn’t be too hard to trade up a couple spots to get ahead of Houston if that’s what Minnesota wants to do.

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Of course, if the Vikes don’t have one particular receiver they love and are content to take one of three or four guys, then there’s no reason for them not to stand pat at #23.