It's become a rarity for the Vikings to open the second day of an NFL Draft with a second-round pick.
Such a setting last happened in 2011, when Minnesota drafted tight end Kyle Rudolph at the 43rd overall spot. In the three drafts since, Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman used the currency of second-round picks to vault up the board back into the first round. The moves landed Harrison Smith in 2012, Cordarrelle Patterson in 2013 and Teddy Bridgewater in 2014.
The Vikings entered this year's draft, which opened in Chicago Thursday and concludes Saturday, with seven picks, which is fewer than Spielman's annual goal of 10.
There were trade rumors and talks across the league at multiple spots on the board, and Spielman said the Vikings received a couple of offers to move down from the 11th overall spot. Minnesota opted to stay put after concluding the potential value of Trae Waynes and the risk of not getting him weren't going to be matched.
All told, there were only two day-of trades. San Diego swapped with San Francisco, moving up two spots Friday to draft Melvin Gordon in exchange for a fourth-round (117th overall) pick this year and a fifth-round selection next year. Denver moved from 28th to Detroit's spot at 23 to draft Shane Ray by sending the Lions their original first-round pick (Detroit used on Laken Tomlinson), a fifth-round spot (143rd overall) this year, a fifth next year and offensive lineman Manny Ramirez.
"What's funny is you watch the draft unfold last night, it was one of the most conventional drafts I can remember in a long time," Spielman said Friday morning while a phone guest on the 9 to Noon show on KFAN that was broadcast live by Voice of the Vikings Paul Allen and Paul Charchian from the New Stadium Preview Center. "There was not a lot of movement. Everybody picked the players that they really had regard for. I think a lot of it had to do with the talent (being) so close. There were a couple of blue chip players, and then after that, there were a lot of very good players in the first round, and everybody tagged who they wanted to go after and grabbed a need."
Spielman might have more to consider than on second days of years past. He hasn't increased the number of picks, so it might again be difficult to trade up without depleting that reserve, but would the Vikings consider trading down to land additional picks?
The first scenario is only likely to happen if a player is still on the board at 45 that has a much higher grade from the Vikings that was assigned after a comprehensive assessment process. The second scenario could happen with the right offer and if there's a few options the Vikings like and could still obtain by moving down.
"As you look through this draft and what's coming up today, there's still a lot of very good football players on the board and you're going to be able to get a couple of good football players in the second and third round that I think teams are going to covet that are going to come in and help their ball clubs," Spielman said. "It's very good depth, from the standpoint of the quality of players, but you can get maybe the same quality of player in the second round that you can get in the bottom of the first.
"There's a lot of different variables that can you sit and hold, knowing if there are three or four players there you like," Spielman added, "that you're pretty sure you're going to get one of those, just let that fall to you? Is it deep enough where maybe you move back in the second round to accumulate more picks?"
Door number three would be staying at 45 in the second round, and seeing if any similar scenarios present in the third round, particularly if they allow the Vikings to load up for Saturday.
"We have to go through this, and if you go up in the second round for someone you truly covet, is it worth losing another player later in the draft? If we can collect more later in the draft, I've always tried to do that," Spielman said.
Here's a look at NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock's final rankings of the top five players at each position that are still available:
Quarterback
3. Bryce Petty, Baylor
4. Brett Hundley, UCLA
5. Sean Mannion, Oregon State
Running back
3. Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
4. Duke Johnson, Miami (Fla.)
5. Tevin Coleman, Indiana
Wide receiver
Note: A total of six receivers came off the board, including all of Mayock's top five.
Tight end
1. Maxx Williams, Minnesota
2. Clive Walford, Miami (Fla.)
3. Tyler Kroft, Rutgers
4. Blake Bell, Oklahoma
5. Jeff Heuerman, Ohio State
Interior offensive linemen
4. A.J. Cann, South Carolina
5. Mitch Morse, Missouri
Offensive tackle
1. La'el Collins, LSU
5. T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
Interior defensive linemen
5. Eddie Goldman, Florida State
Edge rusher
4. Randy Gregory, Nebraska
Linebacker
1. Paul Dawson, TCU
2. Eric Kendricks, UCLA
4. Denzel Perryman, Miami (Fla.)
5. Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
Cornerback Note: Mayock ranked Vikings pick Trae Waynes as his top corner.
4. Jalen Collins, LSU
Safety
2. Landon Collins, Alabama
4. Quinten Rollins, Miami (Ohio)
5. Jaquiski Tartt, Samford
