4 ways being in win-now mode changes the Vikings 2021 draft approach

Increases their chances of trading up

Rick Spielman loves to trade down in the NFL Draft. He especially loves doing this in the third round to accumulate some additional Day 3 choices. This philosophy has had mixed results, but with the Vikings in a win-now mode this year, it is time for Spielman to do the opposite.

Spielman and his scouting staff need to clearly identify the players who are the best fit for their offensive and defensive schemes and then do what they can to ensure they land them.

The Vikings currently don’t have a second-round pick this year and this could prove to be costly as this is a round where they could’ve landed a potential starting safety. If they fall in love with a safety prospect like Richie Grant or Andre Cisco, they will need to package picks to try and move up to take one of them.

This also goes for later in the draft. Accumulating additional picks for 2022, or for drafts down the road won’t do Minnesota’s current regime much good if they aren’t around to use them.

If the Vikings are sitting there in the sixth round and there is a guard on the board who they think could compete to start, they can’t sit on their laurels and hope he falls down the board to them. Minnesota needs to be aggressive and give up picks to ensure they get their guys this year.

Being in a win-now means quality over quantity when it comes to the draft, and getting four potential starters over eight promising prospects is the way the Vikings will have to go.