5 prospects the Vikings could trade back into the first round for

Noah Fant – TE (Iowa)

The Vikings have shown a lot of interest in this big playmaker from Iowa. Though tight end isn’t a pressing need this year, Minnesota realizes that after this upcoming season, Tyler Conklin will be the only tight end under contract. So this would be a look towards the future-type of selection, but it would be a look that could also help the Vikings out in the short term.

Fant is a guy any offensive coordinator would drool over. He’s got great size, speed, and hands.  Fant clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash at this year’s Combine, which is a very impressive time for a man who stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 250 pounds.

Fant is a mismatch waiting to happen and Minnesota having him on the field at the same time as Kyle Rudolph would frustrate defenses to no end. He isn’t the blocker that his cohort T.J. Hockenson is, but his receiving ability is on par and maybe even a little bit better.

Of the guys on this list, Fant is the one the Vikings would have to move up the most for. He could go as high as to the Green Bay Packers at pick No. 12 or end up coming off the board in the mid-20s.

If Minnesota goes the offensive line route at pick No. 18, as most assume they will, they will keep a close eye on Fant. If he’s still on the board around pick No. 25 or so, Rick Spielman could get antsy and look to put a deal together that gets the team back into the first to land this dynamic weapon.