With the 2020 NFL Draft less than three weeks away, CBS Sports recently took a look at possible scenarios for teams looking to move up or down later this month.
Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports included the Vikings in his list of 10 potential trades, as he had Minnesota and Baltimore agreeing to a deal.
DeArdo proposed a trade through which the Ravens would receive the 22nd overall pick by sending the Vikings the 28th and 92nd overall selections.
DeArdo wrote:
The Vikings, who are also expected to move around in the first round, would pick up an extra draft pick while also keeping [two] first-round picks. Minnesota needs both of those picks to address their needs at receiver and cornerback after [trading] Stefon Diggs and losing Trae Waynes earlier this offseason.
Minnesota currently has two first-round selections — Nos. 22 and 25 — and would still end up with two picks on Day 1 in DeArdo's scenario, which would give the Vikings a total of 13 picks with the addition of the 92nd pick. That also would make six selections in the first 105 spots.
The list of the Vikings current 12 draft picks can be found here.
Cronin: Rookie linemen hurt most by potential reduced offseason programs
Although the main focus of the football world is on the draft, this is also the time of year when offseason programs get going for NFL teams.
The Vikings, for example, were scheduled to have players return to Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on April 20 for voluntary offseason workouts, but the league recently announced that offseason programs are delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ESPN's team of beat reporters recently took a look at how a reduced or shortened offseason program would affect the teams they cover, and dove into which player or position would be hampered the most.
Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin opined that rookie offensive linemen would be behind the curve in Minnesota if they were not able to have a full offseason program under their belts.
Cronin wrote:
The whole offensive line needs to improve, and a compressed offseason hurts the younger players — particularly the rookies Minnesota might draft — in their development and ability to make an impact in Year 1. Brian O'Neill and Garrett Bradbury struggled at times as rookies but were able to make important contributions thanks in part to the work they were able to do in May and June. Not having that time in an NFL weight-training program hurts rookie offensive linemen the most as they transition from college to the pros.
An offseason workout program would also allow the Vikings to tinker with various moves on the O-line, like possibly trying Riley Reiff out on the interior, moving Pat Elflein from left guard to right guard and seeing what kind of role Dru Samia can handle. If the NFL goes directly from the draft to training camp, it's possible the Vikings O-line won't be able to experiment as much as it would have hoped for and will have to roll with whatever combination is the most ready in Week 1.
Minnesota currently has 10 offensive linemen on its roster. The Vikings re-signed Brett Jones, Dakota Dozier and Rashod Hill this offseason, but Minnesota released starting right guard Josh Kline.
The Vikings drafted three offensive linemen in 2019: Bradbury (first round), Samia (fourth round) and Oli Udoh (sixth round).
Online auction to help COVID-19 effort opens
Adam Thielen last week announced a $100,000 donation from Thielen Foundation and a radiothon for Thursday, April 9, on KFAN and iHeart Radio-Minneapolis to help with the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation and radiothon will benefit The Salvation Army, Second Harvest Heartland, M Health Fairview and the MN Disaster Recovery Fund for Coronavirus.
A silent auction in partnership with Thielen and teammate Kyle Rudolph is opening at noon (CT) on April 6 and running through Thursday. People can participate in a silent auction to bid on unique memorabilia and experiences like Zoom chats with Thielen and Rudolph for winning bidders. One hundred percent of every dollar raised will be split for the above organizations.
