The Chicago Bears could not only acquire their future main quarterback, but also prevent the Minnesota Vikings from choosing their own.
Holding the No. 1 and No. 9 picks in this year’s draft, the Bears could gain from trading down from the ninth position with only two other picks, a third- and fourth-rounder.
Considering the scenario where the Vikings can't trade into the top five to get one of the top four quarterbacks, their plans of staying put and taking a quarterback at No. 11 could be thwarted by Chicago.
Bleacher Report’s Jake Tansey suggested a trade that could benefit the Denver Broncos (No. 12) or Las Vegas Raider (No. 13) in getting a quarterback at No. 9, effectively bypassing the Vikings.
“The rush to secure the fourth-best quarterback in the draft could still be on at No. 9 if the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders fail to move up. Chicago will not do any business with the Vikings, especially if it helps them land their replacement for Kirk Cousins,” Tansey wrote. “That leaves Denver and Las Vegas as the primary options to trade with if the fourth quarterback, likely J.J. McCarthy, is still on the board at No. 9.”
Chicago could move back just a few spots by exchanging first-round picks and acquire additional draft capital — an early third-round pick from the Broncos or a second-rounder from the Raiders.
The Vikings could simply take the next quarterback at No. 11 if the Bears help another team secure their rookie quarterback, but that could be a stretch for prospects like Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix.
Several elite defensive players would be good picks for the Vikings with the No. 11 pick, but that also forfeits their future at quarterback for the rest of the draft.
Vikings Have Best Trade Package to Get a Top-4 QB
Getty2024 NFL draft quarterback prospects (from left) Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy, Jayden Daniels, and Michael Penix Jr.
Yes, the Bears could lock the Vikings out from the ninth spot, but if it gets that far the Vikings could have already given up on the idea of drafting a quarterback early in the first round.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah highlighted the flexibility of the No. 23 pick, acquired in a trade with the Houston Texans, gives his front office.
However, the Vikings now have two first-round picks in this year’s draft. The only other team besides the NFC North counterparts to have multiple first-rounders is the Arizona Cardinals (No. 4 and No. 27).
The Cardinals are not looking for a quarterback and are a potential team to trade down.
A first-round pick in this year’s draft holds much higher value than a future first-rounder. The NFL is a league that doesn't like waiting and teams would love to add first-round talent to their rosters now — not next year.
Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling stated that the Vikings explored a trade-up for a quarterback last year but did not have the draft capital. The Vikings’ trade with the Texans gives them exactly that as they’re now the center of attention for any team looking to trade out of the top five.
Vikings Ready to Use Sam Darnold for the 2024 Season
GettySam Darnold #14 of the San Francisco 49ers.
While the Vikings want to pick a quarterback, they're not going to be tricked into a bad deal. They are considering all options, including sticking with Sam Darnold.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on April 2, the Vikings are ready to keep Darnold and draft a quarterback later or wait until the 2025 draft, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
“On one hand, they have plans to evaluate the top prospects through private workouts and/or visits, and they have a plan to develop a rookie quarterback,” Seifert wrote. “On the other hand, they are getting ready to possibly keep Sam Darnold in 2024 and then consider a quarterback drafted with a lower pick or look ahead to the 2025 class.”
