Vikings Reportedly Wanted to Draft Malik Nabers Then Trade Justin Jefferson

Dec 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings traded up for Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy in last month's NFL Draft, but reports now indicate that the former Wolverine wasn't the only player Minnesota had in mind for a potential trade up. 

According to Pioneer Press sports columnist Charley Walters, the team was also targeting LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers at the No. 5 overall pick.

“There was buzz at draft time that the Vikings wanted to move from No. 11 to No. 5, not to pick a quarterback but to go get LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was picked No. 6 by the Giants,” Walters said in his Sunday column. “Had that trade occurred, Jefferson would have been traded and Nabers would have been the No. 1 receiver.”

What's most fascinating about this potential rumor is not just the idea of trading up for Nabers, but the notion of trading All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The team has shown no indication that he was on the trade block or under any trade consideration. Even if Jefferson were available for trade, it's hard to imagine such a deal being completed on draft night.

This scenario could make some sense if Minnesota was unable to agree on an extension with Jefferson. The team might have considered a complete rebuild, missing out on a potential quarterback and instead focusing on pairing Malik Nabers with Jordan Addison for the future as they rebuild from the ground up.

If the All-Pro wide receiver had been available, he could have secured the team multiple first-round picks. Coupled with saving over $30 million in salary over the next few seasons, this rumor could make sense from an analytical perspective, aligning with the approach for which general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is known.

Walters' reputation isn't highly regarded by many, so this could just be a rumor. However, it remains newsworthy given the ongoing contract negotiations between Jefferson and the Vikings. Only time will tell how the situation unfolds, but it seems evident that the team is at least exploring potential scenarios if they decide to trade the All-Pro wide receiver.