It's draft season. Forget Throwback Thursday, how about Trade Back Thursday? Under GM Rick Spielman, the Vikings are known for their shrewd-but-trade happy tendencies in the NFL draft. As such, vikings.com will look at potential trade back options on Thursdays from now through Day 1 of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Previous ScenariosTrade Back Thursday: Receiving Offers* *Trade Back Thursday: Mariota on the Board at No. 11
Trade Back Thursday: Moving for Maxx?
Scenario: DeVante Parker is the last of the draft's "big three" WRs and he's on the board when the Vikings are on the clock at No. 11. Houston has a need at the position, and with the Vikings (No. 11), Browns (No. 12) and Saints (No. 13) all candidates to take a WR, the Texans feel compelled to jump up from No. 16 to get their guy. Then, when the Vikings are on the clock at No. 16, the Cardinals decide to move up from their spot at No. 24 to grab RB Melvin Gordon ahead of the Chargers, who are at No. 17.
That's right – the Vikings have an opportunity to double down. They can trade down twice to accumulate draft choices to stock up on both sides of the ball. Here is the proposal in its entirety, and it's a take it all-or-leave it all scenario.
Proposal – Part 1Vikings receive: No. 16 overall pick, a 3rd-rounder (N0. 82 overall) and a 4th-rounder (116)
Texans receive: N. 11 overall
Proposal – Part 2
Vikings receive: No. 24 overall pick, a 3rd-rounder (86) and a 5th-rounder (159)
Cardinals receive: No. 16 overall pick
That's a lot to digest, so here's a simpler breakdown:
Is it better to stay put at No. 11, take the best available player, and then see what happens with the remaining six selections? Or is it better to trade down twice to ultimately select at No. 24 and receive four additional draft choices (Nos. 82, 87, 116 and 160) for doing so? The latter approach would give the Vikings the trade currency they would need to get back into the end of the 1st round for an additional pick, something they've done each of the past three drafts.
You make the call!
