Decisions, decisions. First-year Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has one heck of a tough one on his hands as the 2012 NFL Draft looms large, and it has nothing in the world to do with finding a new stadium.
The Vikings, owners of the No. 3 overall pick, appear to be entertaining the idea of swapping selections with either Tampa Bay (No. 5) or St. Louis (No. 6) in a blockbuster draft-day move. The two organizations presumably are both weighing the options of moving up to select Alabama running back Trent Richardson with Minnesota's third choice, as it's clear Richardson could no longer be on the board by the time the fifth or sixth picks are announced.
As Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press points out, Minnesota and Spielman will be seeking a second-round pick in addition to the swap at the bare minimum, and could theoretically be asking for more in an effort to determine St. Louis and Tampa Bay's respective desperation level. It all depends on how coveted Richardson ends up being when everyone's cards are eventually laid on the table.
The plan now is for Minnesota to continue to drum up interest in the No. 3 slot (and for that matter, Trent Richardson), as St. Louis and Tampa Bay and whoever else may be interested continue to formulate offers and weigh their options. If the Vikings are still able to land the player they covet at No. 5 or 6, then trading down two or three spots and landing an extra value pick or two in the process seems like a win-win.
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