The biggest mistake the Vikings could make in the 2022 NFL Draft

What would be the worst decision the Minnesota Vikings could make during the 2022 NFL Draft at the end of the month?

For a variety of different reasons, watching what the Minnesota Vikings decide to do during the 2022 NFL Draft is going to be extremely intriguing.

For the first time since 2005, Rick Spielman will not have any input on any of the draft selections the Vikings will make this year. Instead, Minnesota will be led by new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and new head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Given that this is the very first time Adofo-Mensah has ever been a general manager in the NFL, we really have no idea what approach the Vikings will take during this year’s draft. There is, however, a certain decision Minnesota’s new general manager should avoid making when he attempts to add a group of talented prospects to the team’s roster at the end of the month.

Minnesota Vikings should avoid trading up for a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft

As much as some would like to see it happen, the Vikings trading up for a quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft would be one of the biggest mistakes they could make.

Not only is the 2022 quarterback class not expected to feature any can’t-miss prospects, but Minnesota needs all of the draft assets they can get to help with their competitive rebuild during the next two years.

So giving up a bunch of draft picks to move up in the first round for a rookie quarterback who might (big emphasis on the might) end up as a solid starter one day doesn’t seem like a smart decision for the Vikings to make.

Plus, one of the biggest reasons to even draft a quarterback in the first round in today’s NFL is to take advantage of the cheap rookie contract. With Minnesota essentially locking Kirk Cousins in until 2024 with the extension they gave him earlier this offseason, the first two years of a rookie quarterback’s contract would likely be wasted.

Could the Vikings still select a quarterback in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft or in a later round? Of course, but they are currently in no position to be giving up any significant assets in order to acquire a rookie signal-caller later this month.