Vikings Move All the Way Up to No. 2 in New Mock Draft From The 33rd Team

Could the Vikings get all the way up to the second overall pick to ensure they get their guy?

In a new mock draft from The 33rd Team's Diante Lee, the Vikings trade all the way up to the Commanders' No. 2 overall pick. Here's the proposed deal:

• Vikings Receive: 2024 No. 2, No. 40

• Commanders Receive: 2024 No. 11, No. 23, 2025 first-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick

With the second pick in the draft, the Vikings take UNC quarterback Drake Maye.

"It takes some real job security and a long-term vision to hand away so much control at the top of the draft, but I’m simulating this trade on the assumption that Washington Commanders GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn are safe for a long-term rebuild, and netting several first rounders will go a long way to turning things around," Lee wrote. "As for the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin O’Connell would love a quarterback who works the middle of the field, anticipates throwing windows and consistently stands in the pocket to deliver the ball when he’s pressured. Drake Maye needs some cleaning up, but he’s the best non-Caleb Williams quarterback to maximize Justin Jefferson’s prime."

My initial thoughts? The Vikings do this in a heartbeat, but it probably isn't realistic. The Commanders are in position to take whichever of Maye or Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy they like best. If they're going to trade down, they have the leverage to get more of a haul than this, no matter what the trade charts say. They could drive up the price by talking to teams like the Giants, Broncos, and Raiders in addition to Minnesota.

I think the Vikings would trade 11, 23, next year's first, and a fourth-rounder for No. 2 without getting No. 40 back. And even that might not be enough to make the Commanders decide to pass on Maye and the other quarterbacks. This specific deal, which nets the Vikings both Maye and an early second-round pick, would be a no-brainer for Minnesota — which is why I don't think Washington would do it. Again, it might be a reasonable deal on paper, but the Commanders have all the leverage here to make a team like the Vikings give up more than this.

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