In Chad Reuter’s four-round NFL mock draft over at NFL.com, he has Vikings GM Rick Spielman wheeling and dealing out of the gates.
Reuter has the Vikings trading their 14th pick to the Saints in exchange for a 2022 first-round pick and the 2021 28th overall pick.
With the 28th overall pick, the Vikings selected Oklahoma defensive end Ronnie Perkins.
Here’s what Reuter wrote about the pick:
The Vikings are happy to get a much-needed pass rusher, along with the first-round pick with which the Saints were willing to part in this projection. Perkins’ game mirrors that of Yannick Ngakoue, the explosive pass rusher whom GM Rick Spielman traded for and then moved to Baltimore at minimal loss after it was clear there wasn’t a playoff run coming in 2020.
How do we feel about the Vikings moving down? I tend to be all for it considering where the Saints are. Drew Brees is likely gone. What if the Saints have an off year with whoever is at quarterback and their 2022 pick ends up being in the top-10?
Trading back is certainly something to watch with so many quarterbacks expected to go early in the draft.