Inside The Vikings

Vikings Draft Rumors: Commanders Staying Put, Patriots Open for Business?

What kind of package would it take for the Vikings to get up to 3 for Drake Maye?

Will Ragatz

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf during the scouting combine
Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf during the scouting combine / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

As the Vikings continue to explore a trade up for a quarterback in next week's NFL draft, it sounds like only one team picking in the top three is open to discussing a deal.

It's no secret that the Bears are taking Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. And while this isn't exactly a revelation, it also sounds like the Commanders will be staying at No. 2 and taking a quarterback.

“We feel great about staying at No. 2," Peters told reporters in Washington on Thursday. "I don’t see a whole lot of scenarios where we trade down."

Peters said the team is close to finalizing its decision on who they'll be taking, but that the process will continue into next week. ESPN's Adam Schefter seems to think it'll be LSU's Jayden Daniels, which aligns with the general consensus among draft analysts and insiders. It could certainly be Drake Maye when the Commanders hand in the card at No. 2, but Daniels is a -210 favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook in that spot.

Where the conversations begin for Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Executive VP of Football Ops Rob Brzezinski is with the Patriots and the No. 3 overall pick. It would take a haul to get up there, but doing so could land the Vikings the grand prize of Maye (if the Commanders take Daniels). Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf said on Thursday that the team is "open for business" when it comes to their pick.

"We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft," Wolf said. "We're a draft and develop team. The more picks we have, the better."

Wolf said conversations with other teams are ongoing, but he also said the Patriots would be comfortable staying at 3 and taking one of the quarterbacks.

Whether it's Maye or Daniels available at 3, the Vikings will have to decide just how much they're willing to give up to move up eight spots to secure that player. If the Patriots' asking price is too high, the Vikings will presumably turn their focus towards the Cardinals and the No. 4 pick, which could be used to take J.J. McCarthy. Adofo-Mensah could also play the risky game of hoping McCarthy falls a bit, which would lessen the price needed to trade up and get him.

Only one week until we find out what happens.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long.

Follow Will Ragatz on X/Twitter

Published
Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ