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Everyone already knows which two players are going to be drafted first in the upcoming NFL Draft. It's going to be Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, two young quarterbacks who are already bringing hope to fans of the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins.

The spotlight is now being turned down the third overall pick, which is owned by the Minnesota Vikings.

Draft pundits have been predicting that the franchise will be drafting potential superstar left tackle Matt Kalil from the University of Southern California. The rapid rise of Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill has clouded things a bit now.

There are talks that the Vikings are looking to move down from that third spot.

Should the Vikings do the trade? If so, who should trade up and for whom?

I'd say the Packers, and for Justin Blackmon.

The obvious choice is Miami to get Tannehill. The Rams might want to ensure they get Kalil. A team that wants Richardson could jump up. Carolina might really want Claiborne and make the move.

When Rick Speilman says he is open to offers, what he is saying is that they are not locked in on any specific player and will move down as far as they can without sacrificing what they see as value of #3. So however many players they see as being worthy of taking at #3 is how far they will allow themselves to fall. Tiering prospects.

I'm thinking that is 7 spots, with the 5 players being Claiborne, Kalil, Blackmon, Floyd, and Ingram. I know they are not interested in Richardson or Tannehill, so that adds two extra spots, assuming both are top 8 picks and they should be.

Miami needs to ensure they get Tannehill so they could jump Cleveland at #4 who might be forced to take him.

Three QB's in the Top 4 at least. Wow.

Icness wrote:The obvious choice is Miami to get Tannehill. The Rams might want to ensure they get Kalil. A team that wants Richardson could jump up. Carolina might really want Claiborne and make the move.

When Rick Speilman says he is open to offers, what he is saying is that they are not locked in on any specific player and will move down as far as they can without sacrificing what they see as value of #3. So however many players they see as being worthy of taking at #3 is how far they will allow themselves to fall. Tiering prospects.

I'm thinking that is 7 spots, with the 5 players being Claiborne, Kalil, Blackmon, Floyd, and Ingram. I know they are not interested in Richardson or Tannehill, so that adds two extra spots, assuming both are top 8 picks and they should be.

I wonder if the Vikings will get as much as the Rams did for their pick.

No chance.

Worm Guts wrote:No chance.

Yeah, that's not going to happen. I'll use Carolina jumping from #9. That would cost a swap of 1sts, a 2nd, a 4th, and a 2nd next year. At least that's what I would ask for. Marty Hurney has been known to overspend in the past (Otah, E. Brown) so it could happen but two firsts is extremely unlikely.

TSE wrote:I'd say the Packers, and for Justin Blackmon.

mnWI wrote:

TSE wrote:I'd say the Packers, and for Justin Blackmon.

What's also funny is that Rotoworld has a headline now that says Kalil tweeted that he thinks the Vikes were leaning towards Blackmon and that he could possibly be their top target. That's interesting because Blackmon is the player I suggested as the best name to tease with to stir trade interest. Kalil gains them no leverage because everybody assumes them to take him so there's already an understood threat there for any team that wants Kalil. Claiborne and his 4 Wonderlic doesn't really sound like a sexy springboard into a trade rumor, but Blackmon can hold credibility to this kind of a tease, and that could ignite an opportunity for the Vikes to find a trade.

And then the Packers will trade for him, you'll see.

See the 2 teams can do an even exchange of positions. For the Vikes they might want more quantity of good value players whereas the Pack might want to shoot the moon a bit for a stud WR. There's CJ in their division and Blackmon is the #1 WR and he may not be the next CJ but he's at least the best shot to have a key new exciting weapon to try and capitalize quick while Rodgers is in his prime with a great supporting cast etc. So each might feel much more comfortable with an equivalent draft pick value of an opposite end. The Vikes might feel the Pack is the #1 team they can't beat so they don't mind giving up something of unique interest to them to solidify their stance against the 30 other teams they feel they can man up to. Even if they beat the Pack in 1 game they might still feel like a great underdog in the division and that it is a small write off as a lost cause. The Pack sure aren't worried about the Vikes and their messload of crap picks and so they see maybe even an opportunity for the Vikes to never acquire premier talent and thus these could be 2 perfect trading partners. If they both also feel the other is making a mistake then can't hurt to have a division foe take a penalty to your gain. If I can ripoff any team, I want to focus on my division rivals to try and do that first before I whore myself out to the public.

i can't believe Tannehill have gained this much hype. I think it will be a huge mistake if anybody drafts Tannehill in the 1st round. Its an even bigger mistake if you trade up to get him at 3.

Kal El wrote:i can't believe Tannehill have gained this much hype. I think it will be a huge mistake if anybody drafts Tannehill in the 1st round. Its an even bigger mistake if you trade up to get him at 3.

I can give you two NFL teams--one of whom is a perennial playoff team--that have Tannehill rated higher than RG3.

you could have gone ahead and told me lol... yes im curious who?

And I'm not taking anything away from RG3. He has a big arm and he is accurate. But its his athletic ability that ranks him so high and what will make him the 2nd overall pick. The fact that 2 teams have Tannehill ranked above RG3 does not impress me and it surely isn't indicative of anything. Last season Cam Newton, by different sources, was ranked as low as 4, below Blaine Gabbert (who was supposed to be the best QB in the class), Locker, and Mallet. And its funny because Newtons success helped RG3's draft stock.

I don't think that they have a shot at getting out of the Eastern Conference Finals with either pick.

I would trade the pick for Dwyane Wade or a good second option, preferably a shooting guard.

bledredwine wrote:I don't think that they have a shot at getting out of the Eastern Conference Finals with either pick.

I would trade the pick for Dwyane Wade or a good second option, preferably a shooting guard.

Good point. I think Wade has the strength and height to step in and contribute at WR right away. Plus he already has a ring so he is much more proven than Blackmon.

Lots of trade talk going on right now. Eagles have contacted the Browns about trading up to the fourth spot. Stuff like that should affect the third pick as well.

I don't think the Vikings will be trading the pick. They've been spreading a lot of rumors at Winter Park.

Starting to think that they should just do the safe thing and take Kalil.

Sounds like they're trying to drum up a deal like the Rams got. They won't get it.
I think they take Kalil. Its not only safe but smart - value matches need.

I don't see Cleveland dealing their pick either. Tampa Bay might be the pick traded if Cleveland takes Claiborne - neither of those teams are actually going to take Richardson top 5.

the wording of the title freaked me out

unless they get a monster offer i don't see them trading, i can see them sitting on it and letting the time run out though- those sneaky dogs

I don't think it would take a monster offer. In fact, if they can trade down and still get one of Clairborne, Blackmon or Kalil I don't think it would take much at all.