Vikings Trade Back Again, Pick Up 2024 Fifth in Deal With Chiefs
The Vikings have traded back for a second time in the 2023 NFL Draft, sending the 119th pick to the Chiefs for the 134th pick and a 2024 fifth-rounder. Essentially, they moved back 15 spots in the fourth round to pick up what will almost certainly be a late fifth-round pick next year.
This comes after GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — who made a league-high six trades during last year's draft — traded back from 87 to 102 in the third round on Friday, selecting USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon with the final pick of the night.
The logical conclusion from this move is that the Vikings see a number of similarly-graded players on their board still available and believe they can land someone they covet at 134. And in moving back, they added a bit of extra capital for next year.
The Vikings kicked off their draft by taking Jordan Addison and then Blackmon, addressing their biggest needs of wide receiver and cornerback. They could go in a wide range of directions with their five picks on Saturday, including doubling down at WR or CB. Other positions of need include defensive tackle, linebacker, edge rusher, running back, and guard. And it'll be interesting to see if they select a QB at some point.
Here's what Minnesota is working with:
- Round 1, Pick 23: USC WR Jordan Addison
- Round 3, Pick 102 (via SF): USC CB Mekhi Blackmon
- Round 4, Pick 134 (via KC)
- Round 5, Pick 158
- Round 5, Pick 164 (via SF)
- Round 6, Pick 211 (compensatory)
- Round 7, Pick 222 (via SF)
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