Insider Believes Kevin O’Connell Sent Message to Patriots, Cardinals

The Minnesota Vikings need to trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft to get one of the class’s star quarterbacks. They have the pieces to do it; now, they must find a partner to make it happen. Kevin O’Connell is doing his best to help facilitate a move between one of the teams picking at the top of the draft.

When O’Connell was speaking at the League Meetings last week in Florida, he made some interesting comments.

He made the point that history shows that a king’s ransom can be had for a top pick but Minnesota’s two first-round picks are something of “greater value.” When the 49ers traded up from 12 to two in 2021, they had to give up three firsts, but two of them were in the future. The Vikings have two in this current class is thought to give them an advantage since a team would know what they are getting.

Ben Volin of The Boston Globe shares this thought. He states, “O’Connell’s point is valid, but it also sounds like he is sending a message to the Patriots and Cardinals that two first-rounders in this year’s draft should be enough for the No. 3 or 4 pick.”

The Vikings need to make a move, and they have some chances to do so. The 2023 draft class is one of the better quarterback groups since 2020. That class has given the league three franchise cornerstones, and Minnesota is hoping that in 2023, they find one.