The Vikings are “1 million percent” the most likely trade partner if the New England Patriots decide to move out of the No. 3 spot in next week’s NFL draft, according to NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran.
While the Vikings are certainly the likeliest trade partner, that doesn’t appear to be the most likely path New England takes on draft day.
“Their default position is to take a quarterback,” said Curran on Wednesday’s episode of the StribSports Daily podcast.
Vikings conversation with Tom Curran starts at the 9:00 minute mark in the podcast embed below…
The Patriots have one of the most depleted rosters in the entire NFL and have been a heavy favorite among draft analysts to move down and acquire more picks, instead of taking a rookie quarterback. Minnesota, on the other hand, has one of the best situations in the entire league for a rookie quarterback to be dropped into.
The two organizations make near perfect trade partners as the Vikings have two first-round draft picks this season after acquiring Houston’s first-rounder in mid-March.
"If you gave truth serum" to the agents of all the top QBs, @MoveTheSticks thinks all of them would say they want their guy going to Minnesota.
Vikings have 3 Ps: Play caller, protection, playmakers. Rookie can sit behind Sam Darnold at first potentially. By far best situation.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) April 17, 2024
But what would it take for the Patriots to move out of that highly-coveted No. 3 spot?
“In conversations I’ve had with folks around the team, it was made clear to me that that the 2021 move by San Francisco in which they went from No. 12 to No. 3 — that yielded three first-round picks over the course of three seasons — it was said to me, not relative to that but by way of comparison, the Patriots would be seeking four [first-round picks],” Curran said.
While four first-round picks is certainly an eye-popping package to give up, Curran also offered the idea of throwing in players.
“I think you have to start talking about players. I think you have to get into that department,” Curran said. “The three first-round picks — you’re not going to get a fourth. Minnesota is not going to give up fourth first-round pick. Can they get a second and a third from down the road? You can’t go too far into the future. … Or can you find a [player], [Christian] Darrisaw for instance. Again you’re not going to be giving away great players. But if it’s first-round pick, first-round pick and then usually they project a future first-rounder you talk around. So it’s the two this year, it’s next years and then it’s Darrisaw, for instance.”
The idea of giving up a stud left tackle is right there with the idea of giving up the league’s best receiver. Hard pass.
The ideal situation that Minnesota has built is contingent around the rookie quarterback having the best weapons and protection in the league. You wouldn’t want to give up too many pieces to get your quarterback, then putting them in a tough spot with insufficient talent around them.
Curran referenced that himself when discussing which QB is the best fit for either organization.
“You can’t go wrong if you have a situation like Minnesota does, if you take J.J. McCarthy. Because, generally, these quarterbacks don’t suck because the quarterbacks unilaterally can’t play. They suck because of the situation they go into,” he said.
