Minnesota Vikings: Trading up in 2020 NFL Draft should be off the table

Although the Minnesota Vikings own a large number of draft picks, here’s why they shouldn’t trade up in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The upcoming 2020 NFL Draft will likely be an important one for the future of the Minnesota Vikings. With an offseason that has already been filled with numerous players departing the Vikings, especially on the defensive side of the ball, Minnesota will likely rely heavily on the draft on April 23-25 in terms of adding players for the upcoming season and beyond.

Given their tough salary cap situation going into the offseason, the draft is an avenue that would provide the Vikings with both young talent and players on affordable contracts while they continue to fill holes within various aspects of the roster.

Leading up to the draft, Minnesota currently holds 12 picks, including two first-round picks and seven in the first five rounds. Here is the full list of the Vikings selections:

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• Round 1 (No. 22)
• Round 1 (No. 25)
• Round 2 (No. 58)
• Round 3 (No. 89)
• Round 3 (No. 105)
• Round 4 (No. 132)
• Round 5 (No. 155)
• Round 6 (No. 201)
• Round 6 (No. 205)
• Round 7 (No. 219)
• Round 7 (No. 249)
• Round 7 (No. 253)

The fact that Minnesota has a large amount of selections entering the draft has many wondering if the purple and gold will try and make a move up in the draft to grab a player higher in the draft order.

Although the Vikings do hold a dozen picks for the annual draft, Minnesota should stand pat — especially when it comes to the first few rounds — and not move up in the early rounds.

The biggest reason why the Vikings should hold onto their current plethora of picks and not package them together to move up in the early rounds is that they do have a large number of needs on both ends of the field.

Given the departures this offseason, including the likes of cornerback Xavier Rhodes, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, defensive end Everson Griffen and others, Minnesota has needs most notably at those three positions along with spots within the offensive and defensive lines and on the back end of the defense. The Vikings could also look for a backup quarterback in the draft as well.

Those vacant positions and the various needs around the depth chart is why Minnesota shouldn’t sacrifice any of its picks in the first few rounds, especially its two first-round selections at Nos. 22 and 25.

First of all, trying to move up in the draft would require the Vikings to package a few of their picks or other assets together to move up. Less selections in the draft isn’t something Minnesota can necessarily afford right now.

If anything, if any moves are made by Minnesota as far as moving around in the draft order, it’s likely that the Vikings would either trade down or move up in the final few rounds of the draft.

Minnesota could look to move down via a trade on day one or two of the draft to gain even more assets either this year or in upcoming years. That is if the Vikings have their eyes on a player who they think will still be available lower than where they are currently slated to pick.

If the Vikings do try and move up via trade at any point in the draft, keep an eye on the latter portion of the second day or on day three in the later rounds. Minnesota does have a total of six picks in Rounds 5-7, which could ultimately be used to potentially move up.

The 2020 NFL Draft will be a key one for the Vikings later this month in terms of them being able to fill some holes this season and into the future with affordable players. But Minnesota should hold off from trading away any of its picks on day one of the draft or really in the first few rounds.