Vikings insider shares exciting prediction about Minnesota's plans for NFL Draft

The rumors continue to swirl around the Minnesota Vikings as they look to select their quarterback of the future in next week’s NFL Draft.

But while some believe the Vikings won’t have the ammunition, the Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling believes they’ll do what it takes to get their guy next Thursday night.

During an appearance on KFAN’s The Paul Allen Show on Thursday, Goessling had the following to say about what he believes Minnesota is going to do next week.

"I still think Plan A – and we’ve talked about this a dozen times by this point – but I still think [trading up for a quarterback] is Plan A, and I expect they’ll get it done.

...Because I think they will do what it takes to make the deal.”

Who will the Minnesota Vikings make a trade with in the 2024 NFL Draft?

The Vikings’ willingness to move up in the draft is not a secret. Kirk Cousins left to sign a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency earlier this offseason, and despite the signing of Sam Darnold, he is not viewed as a long-term solution for Minnesota. But with the 11th overall pick, the Vikings will likely have to be aggressive to find one. 

Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy are projected to go early and could be selected within the first four picks of next week’s draft. Teams like the Washington Commanders (second overall) and New England Patriots (third overall) have been rumored to be shopping their picks in an attempt to build an infrastructure around a quarterback.

While Commanders general manager Adam Peters told reporters they “feel great about staying at No. 2” on Thursday, Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf declared New England “open for business” with the caveat that they would be comfortable selecting one of the top quarterbacks in this year's draft.

With the Arizona Cardinals also declaring themselves open for business last month and several other teams, including the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants, looking to move up, it creates a competitive market that will require a high price for the Vikings to pull a deal off.

During his radio appearance on Thursday, Goessling speculated about the kind of offer it might take for Minnesota to move up to the top of the first round next week.

“My assumption is that if they make this trade up, it’s going to be two first-rounders [and] probably another one next year. I would think it’s going to be the going rate and then something else.”

Goessling went on to say he wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings didn’t make a Day 2 selection this year if they trade up next Thursday, even as Minnesota stands with seven Day 3 picks entering the 2024 draft.

"“f their ‘something else’ is in 2024, they won’t have a lot of capital to move into the second or third round on Friday. Maybe that’s wishful thinking because if they make the trade up for a quarterback, I would be plenty busy already, but I would be a little surprised if they’re able to move up quite to that degree if they make the move up with the quarterback.”

Negotiations for the Vikings and any team looking to move up in the draft should intensify in the next week, and it remains to be seen whether Minnesota can present an offer that the Patriots or any other team can’t refuse.

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