Mock drafts are fun, mock drafts with trades are intriguing.
With the NFL Draft less than a month away, the final mock drafts from the draft world are coming in. The closer we get to the big day, the more certain mock drafts become from people in the know. Some are making predictions, but the insiders are signaling the things they are hearing from inside the building.
While Minnesota sits at pick 18, what are the chances of swinging a draft-day trade for a player who fell way too far?
The Athletic has come up with a few trade scenarios for Minnesota in their six-round mock for the Vikings.
Round 1, No. 11 (via Dolphins): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Mock trade: Minnesota sends No. 18, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Miami for No. 11
We’re starting this off with a bang. The Vikings have been patient in free agency, so why not take a big swing on an electric player?
Will Love fall to No. 12? It’s a fair question. Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s draft expert, had him third in his most recent ranking of the top 100 draft prospects. Most major draft analysts project him as a top-10 pick, but there’s always a chance when teams are privy to more information than the public.
It’s worth noting that when colleague Mike Sando polled NFL executives on the top 10 picks, they all projected the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs to select him at either No. 8 or 9. Yet both of those teams recently paid premiums for free-agent running backs.
Love’s fit in Minnesota is tantalizing. He has home-run hitting ability, which is currently lacking from the Vikings’ running backs room (made up of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason). He is also an exceptional pass catcher. You can imagine how productive he’d be in a system that requires defenses to play vertically. The Vikings have eyed Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in past years. Love can reach those levels.
The Dolphins are in full rebuild mode. Scooping a couple of extra picks for the highly-regarded 2027 draft feels like a palatable enough return.
This move is interesting considering all the mock drafts are dead set on secondary additions. Either Dillon Theineman or Avieon Terrell has been a popular selection. Would the Vikings consider moving up for the consensus number one running back in the draft? Can the team afford to give up draft capital?