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Kevin Seifert, ESPN writer
The Minnesota Vikings acquired the Houston Texans’ first-round pick on Friday morning in a trade that could be a precursor to moving further into the round to select a quarterback to replace the departed Kirk Cousins.
In the deal, the Vikings acquired the Texans’ 23rd overall pick along with a seventh-round pick (No. 232 overall). The Texans received the Vikings’ second-round pick (No. 42), their sixth-round pick (No. 188) and their second-round pick in 2025.
The deal preserved the Vikings’ first-round pick, No. 11 overall, which they could theoretically package with the No. 23 pick to move up in the round.
Speaking to reporters in Minnesota on Thursday, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said Cousins’ departure did not ensure the team would select a quarterback in the first round. The Vikings signed free agent Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract as a potential bridge starter in 2024, and Adofo-Mensah said he thought the team had the “flexibility to go in either direction.”
“If the opportunity arises where that player is available,” he said, “we will take advantage of it. If he is not available in that sense, we will continue to build around it and then find potential possibilities for a long-term solution, in addition to what we have already incorporated with Sam and anyone else we need. So, really, the answer is not something strict. And part of that is the flexibility that we’ve wanted to put into our plan over these last two years.”
Friday’s move, however, made it clear that Adofo-Mensah wants to at least give himself a chance to advance further in a draft where none of the teams holding the top three picks – the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England. Patriots, they will be interested in trading because everyone reportedly wants to draft a quarterback. In that scenario, there could be a competition between several teams for the No. 4 pick to the Arizona Cardinals, who appear to be settled on starter Kyler Murray.