At what point should the Vikings trade up for a quarterback that is sliding?
This early in the process, we have no idea when the top quarterbacks will be selected. We do not even have a consensus ranking of the top quarterback prospects and how they will stack up across NFL draft boards.
The top quarterbacks right now, in no particular order, are as follows: Sam Howell (North Carolina), Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh), Carson Strong (Nevada), Malik Willis (Liberty), Matt Corral (Ole Miss), and Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati). For what it’s worth, I have Howell and Corral as the top two and Carson Strong as a strong contender for QB1 right behind them.
Now, for the Vikings, taking a swing at one of these guys with the 12th overall pick is a bad idea unless they have something already lined up for Kirk Cousins. There are far too many holes on the roster for them to go take a quarterback in the top half of the first round.
I do not think a quarterback is worth selecting with their own pick, but if one starts to slide, a conversation should be had. At what point does the benefit outweigh the risk of taking a quarterback in 2022?
With any of the top three guys that I think are worthy of a first-round pick, the Vikings should start making phone calls if they slide beyond the 20th overall pick to the Steelers. After that, there are several teams with QB needs that could be itching to move up the board.
The Dolphins (26th), Lions (28th and 34th), Giants (36th), Broncos (40th), and Falcons (43rd) could all potentially be in the market for a quarterback ahead of the Vikings, especially if none of them select a gunslinger with their selections in the top of the first round.
With the Vikings sitting at the 46th overall pick, they may need to move up to secure a quarterback if they fall in love with one in this class. Jumping from the 46th spot to the 30s would not cost them a fortune, but it could pay off in the end.