The anticipation was at an all-time high by the time the Minnesota Vikings were on the clock in the NFL draft.
Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton and Alabama receiver Jameson Williams were still on the board. By staying at the 12th-overall pick, the Vikings could land one of two players considered among the top prospects in the draft and finally put the “rebuild” into “competitive rebuild.”
But then “trade” flashed across the screen, creating confusion.
The Vikings moved down 20 spots in the draft. That would have been understandable if the Vikings had received the Detroit Lions’ 2023 first-round pick in return. Instead, the deal netted them a trade-up in the second round and an additional third-round pick.
Optimism returned when the Vikings were on the clock at pick No. 32. With Liberty quarterback Malik Willis on the board, Kwesi-Adofo Mensah could have landed his QB of the future and still had four picks to use on the second day of the draft.
Instead, the Vikings selected Georgia safety Lewis Cine, prompting even more questions from an exhausted fan base.
The short-term question is why the Vikings passed on Williams. The Vikings could have used a burner who runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash to take their offense from good to great. But passing on Williams is one thing. Deciding to play him twice a year is another.
Cine could be a tremendous player, but it won’t matter if Williams runs past him for the next decade. One of the most dynamic players in this year’s draft, Williams could be a problem for years to come.
The decision to pass on Willis is also puzzling. Kevin O’Connell believes he can fix Kirk Cousins – and he might be right. But when do the Vikings consider preparing for life after Cousins?
With a one-year extension, Cousins could be gone after the 2023 season. He’ll also turn 34 in August, meaning his natural ability could decline at any moment. Cousins could play for another five years, but his contract and Minnesota’s willingness to throw money into void years could make managing the cap difficult. That’s especially true when they have to sign Jefferson to a massive extension next year.
Adding Willis could have solved this problem. Taking Willis at No. 12 would have put pressure on the Vikings to play him as soon as possible. Taking him at 32 allows Cousins to play out this year and re-evaluate next spring. If Willis is ready, the Vikings could move on from Cousins, sign Jefferson to an extension, and still have money left over to enhance the roster.
Instead, the Vikings signed up for another year of financial gymnastics.
All of this could have Vikings fans asking, “What the hell?” But it also provides an opportunity to trust the front office’s vision.
Minnesota’s trade with the Lions looks horrible on paper. The Jimmy Johnson and Rich Hill trade charts both estimate that Detroit should have given up an extra third-round pick for an even deal. But it’s possible the Vikings didn’t see that big of a gap between the prospects that went in the middle of the first round and the prospects at the end of the first.
That makes this different than Rick Spielman’s annual trade-a-thon. Adding two additional Day 2 picks gives the Vikings more swings in what they believe is the sweet spot of the draft. If Cine pays off and the Vikings hit on any of these picks, they could have two or more new starters by the end of Friday night.
Cine is a solid prospect. He was one of the leaders of a Georgia defense that had five players drafted in the first round. With freakish athleticism, Cine is a chess piece for Ed Donatell’s defense who can enhance the Illusion of Complexity.
Maybe Donatell wants to have Cine play a traditional role. Perhaps he wants him to play as an extra linebacker. Maybe he wants him to cover in the slot. Cine is capable of all of this and could wind up being the eventual replacement for Harrison Smith.
It would be great for the Vikings if Cine pans out, but it still won’t hurt any less if Willis becomes a franchise quarterback.
Like Mac Jones one year ago, the Vikings didn’t even have to trade up to get a quarterback. With the cost of a trade-up rising with Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud headlining next year’s draft class, taking Willis just made sense – even if he didn’t pan out.
What if the Vikings just didn’t like this draft class?
That seems to be the consensus after the first night of the draft. Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback taken in the first round. With Willis’ accuracy and competition concerns, maybe the Vikings were one of many teams to decide these quarterbacks aren’t worth the risk.
The second night of the draft should tell us a lot about what the Vikings have in mind for the future. If they hit on Friday night, the trade will make sense and lay the foundation for what the front office is trying to accomplish.
