The Minnesota Vikings have already revamped their offensive line this offseason, most notably replacing Ed Ingram, Dalton Risner, and Garrett Bradbury with veterans Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. But GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah may not be done upgrading protection for rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, as left guard Blake Brandel remains a weak spot.
NFL Draft analyst Thor Nystrom believes the Vikings could address that need on Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft by striking a deal with the Buffalo Bills. In his proposed trade, Minnesota would slide back in the first round while still landing one of the top interior offensive linemen in the class.
Proposed Vikings-Bills Draft Trade:
Bills receive:
- No. 24 overall (Jahdae Baron, CB, Texas)
- No. 97 overall (3rd round, compensatory)
Nystrom notes that with Baron slipping into range, the Bills jump at the chance to grab a player reminiscent of Devon Witherspoon.
Vikings receive:
- No. 30 overall (Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State)
- No. 62 overall (Alfred Collins, DT, Texas)
- No. 207 overall (6th round)
According to Nystrom, this trade allows the Vikings to slide down just six spots in the first round while upgrading their third-round pick into a late second and adding a late-round selection. Zabel would be an immediate starter at left guard, and Collins could contribute right away on the defensive line with an eye toward replacing veterans like Harrison Phillips down the line.
Given that Minnesota holds only four picks, including two in the top 100, this kind of deal would help add depth and address key needs on both sides of the ball—protecting McCarthy and preparing for the future up front on defense.
Leave a Reply