I’ve run the tests and played out the scenarios over and over. All in all, I’ve run close to nearly 50 different options the Vikings could find themselves when finally put on the closet at selection 48.

After all that research, after all that work and time put in, I have be honest, the best outcome that’s both has a realistic and probably chance at coming to fruition isn’t an offensive lineman like Dan Feeney or Dion Dawkins. It isn’t a replacement like defensive tackle Caleb Brantley and it isn’t a wild card boom or bust player like Jabrill Peppers.

No.

The best outcome I see playing out on Friday night isn’t a pick at all. It’s a trade.

A lot can happen in just one offseason and when it comes to the Vikings they’ve gone through a lot of personnel changes — both good and bad. However, with the dust finally settling on free agency it’s more clear than ever to me. With so many “quiet needs” on the roster and no first-round pick, Rick Spielman is going to be in a lose-lose scenario if he selects one of the likely bandits projected to be available at pick 48.

With 47 names set to be called before the Vikings are on the clock the anticipation and hype will be so large from Vikings fans for Rick’s pick to fulfill their every hope and desire, unfortunately, I’m here to tell you no one at that pick will live up to the unfair hype at 48.

What about a guy like Feeney you say? I’ve heard from multiple people that Feeney has a laundry list of concussions that teams must decipher through. With close to five concussions before even playing a snap in the NFL, would Spielman use his first pick on such a high medical risk player? Likely not.

What about staying true to the board and taking the best available player? I’m here to tell you now, in a loaded class of cornerbacks, tight ends and running backs, it’s almost certain the top three players on their board will fall under these categories, all positions that are close to the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to positions of need, putting the Vikings’ biggest weaknesses in bigger jeopardy heading into the 2017 season.

By my count, these are all positions of need in no particular order, but need to be addressed at some point during the draft weekend: guard, center, outside linebacker, defensive tackle, wide receiver, backup tight end and backup running back.

Knowing how Spielman likes to operate, I promise you he’s looking at 2018 and further as well, meaning backup cornerback (Terence Newman gone), a developmental quarterback, more depth along the defensive line (Brian Robison gone) and special teams unit (kicker and punter) are all in play as well. Does he want to bring in more competition at safety? How confident are they in Laquon Treadwell from what they know now? Same can be asked about Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander too. Is Anthony Barr going to be who we saw last year moving forward? These are some tough but fair questions that Spielman and Zimmer need to get on the same page about while being open and honest.

Even with eight draft picks, it’s more than fair to think this team needs more ammo to help load the proper depth up needed for coaches to continue to develop young talent. You do this in hopes of avoiding the dreaded roster the team faced after the Brett Favre circus left town, and the roster was imploded from the inside out with aging veterans and unbearable cap hits.

All in all, I’d like to think Spielman has done a good job of sticking with this golden rule when building his team through the draft, limiting the amount of big-name free agents while retaining his own core guys he knows best.

Back to the draft.

With players like Peppers, Taylor Moton and Takkarist McKinley all projected to be long gone, the only realistic option I’d be ecstatic with at 48 is Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham. While I’m still in the minority with this, outside linebacker was a much bigger vulnerability for the defense then people seem to want to believe.

Arif Hasan wrote a great piece detailing week by week and drive by drive how much worst the defense was with Chad Greenway on the field. We’re talking a night and day difference. Like Zimmer defense compared to Leslie Frazier defense. Get what I’m saying yet?

Sure, teams play much more nickel package now in a pass-happy league leaving just two linebackers on the field. However, make no mistake, in a game that will always be won and lost in the trenches, teams won’t pass if they don’t have to. Let them run all over you and they will keep shoving the ball down your throat until you suffocate through the fourth quarter.

Until they fix and solidify the base 4-3 defense, it’d be foolish to expect anything different next season. Drafting (or signing) a legitimate outside linebacker is a high priority on my list and Cunningham would be a gift from the football gods if he fell to 48.

A projected top-40 lock in all my different mock drafts played out, Cunningham has fallen to 48 less than 20 percent of the time. So while it’s not impossible, I just can’t count on that scenario playing on on draft night.

How about Dawkins or the best available tackle?, If was calling the shots, I’d pull the trigger on Dawkins in a heartbeat. He’s a possible swing tackle and future replacement for Riley Rieff and in the worst case, a new mauler on the inside and instant starter at guard. So, what’s the holdup?

Spielman has spoken so highly of player development this offseason and the value of knowing the guys they’ve coached up inside and out. What’s that mean? When I look at the depth chart with guys like TJ Clemmings, Jeremiah Sirles and Willie Beavers I see young players they think can still be developed into starters.

Whether you or I disagree doesn’t really matter, but I still get the growing hunch Spielman thinks those guys are the future of this offensive line. If that’s the case, Spielman can’t see enough value in a small school guy like Dawkins to pull the trigger with this first pick, could he?

Replacing Sharrif Floyd seems like a likely scenario at some point, a former starter and bonafide top-five three-technique defensive tackle won’t be easy to replace. In fact, fellow Florida defensive prospect Brantley has the similar traits of Floyd and could still be available when the Vikings go on the clock.

However, even with Brantley’s skill set on the inside and the idea of filling a major need, the front office can get a similar player later on without dropping off in talent too much thanks to a deep defensive tackle pool. So I ask again, where’s the value in Brantley at 48?

How about Joe Mixon you ask? Let’s not even go there.

It’s time to cope with the fact with 47 selections whizzing by, there won’t be any blue-chip, can’t-miss, slam-dunk prospects, no matter what magic tricks or bunnies Spielman pulls out of his draft day hat. Let alone when you go back and consider just how many “quiet needs” the team truly has both on the surface, and in between the cracks.

It’s not like Spielman isn’t known for moving around on during draft weekend to occur future currency, this is Pretty Ricky we’re talking about, he can’t help himself.

In just the last three drafts alone Spielman has traded down six times. That’s not to mention how many times he moved back up, and pre-draft trades like the Percy Harvin swap. Rest assured, Spielman runs one of the most active war rooms around and will do whatever he can in the confines of his board, to gather more picks.

Trading down and stockpiling as much ammo for both this year and the next is the right move. Even just sliding back once, then grabbing a guy like Dawkins or Brantley will make both the pick and the value feel dramatically better, and at the end of the day, it is. Just one extra pick is another cornerback in a loaded class to help prepare for the departure of Newman in 2018. Or it’s a weapon over the middle of the field and in the red zone that can block in line at the tight end position in the deepest class we’ve ever seen.

Of course, trading down can be easier said than done. After all, to trade down, first you need a trade partner that’s willing to give valuable picks of their own, for someone of clear better value still on the board.

If the Viking are stuck in place at 48, with the projected names mentioned off the board, he’s my newest scenario I hope plays out on draft weekend.

TRADE DOWN from 48 to 57 with Texans

If the Vikings want to move back, they will likely have to slide back nearly double digits and won’t get the capital return they were once used to, which is a tough pill to swallow.

With the Texans in need of a strong armed quarterback to groom, however, the Texans are willing to part ways with their fourth- and fifth-round picks in this scenario to make sure they walk away with one of the better signal callers in Nathan Peterman.

While it’s a long way to fall down to 57 before your first pick, scooping up two extra selections in a class with great depth should be considered a win. With their extra picks, here’s my latest scenario with just days remaining before draft weekend.

2nd 57 D’onta Foreman RB Texas 3rd 79 Ethan Pocic OT LSU 3rd 86 Nico Siragusa OG San Diego St 4th 121 Ardarius Stewart SR Alabama 4th 129 Tanzel Smart DT Tulane 4th 131 Eric Saubert TE Drake 5th 160 Brendan Langley CB Lamar 5th 169 Mack Hollins SR UNC 6th 199 Eric Wilson OLB Cincinnati 7th 232 Connor McDermott OT UCLA



57) D’Onta Foreman, Running Back, Texas

It doesn’t take a genius to realize the Vikings are in the market for a running back this year. With Adrian Peterson officially off the books, there is a sense in Winter Park the team is looking to come away with one of the best of the second tier in an ultra-deep class.

With a hefty six running backs being brought in during their “Top 30” visit, along with other numerous perennial workouts with guys like Mixon and Samaje Perine, it’s clear coach and GM are doing their due diligence to come away with a new talent back to build the offense around in 2018 and beyond.

No one struggled more in short yardage situations like the Vikings, who couldn’t muster a 3rd or 4th-and-short conversion if their life depended on it. While much of that fell on their offensive line — which I’ll get to in a moment — it’s clear there is great value in the second and third rounds of this specific draft with arguably first-round talent.

Flip a coin between Foreman and Perine for me, as both offer outstanding power and muscle in between the tackles. While Perine put up a gaudy 33 bench reps, he truly is a pure north and south runner at the end of the day. Foreman isn’t as much of a one-dimension running back; however, as watch the tape and you’ll see a guy with light feet that can get small and dart in between the creases when he sees some daylight to the second level. I love that extra quickness for such a big man and would love for the team to add him to the mix, helping compliment Jerick McKinnon’s presence outside in space beautifully.

79) Ethan Pocic, Offensive Lineman, LSU

You just have to do it. Call me redundant, but I fell in love with Pocic at the Senior Bowl where I saw a unique blend of size and strength you just don’t see often for a center. While his tall length gets him in trouble in the middle, no one showed off a second and third step to recover like Pocic.

This means that although he loses the leverage game often, he understands how to neutralize and combat that by winning the next two steps and not giving up any more space or depth in the pocket. While adding talented big young bodies to the mix is a priority, Pocic gives you a guy that could potentially play all five positions including tackle — where I would try him at first.

86) Nico Siragusa, Guard, San Diego State

Keep ’em coming. You want interior help, this is the sweet spot of the draft smack dab in the middle of round three. In a loaded class guys are getting pushed down that might not normally be there like Siragusa, who helped pave holes for the NCAA-leading rushing holder of all time in running back Donnel Pumphrey (who will also be drafted). Siragusa is a road grader with a wide frame that bullies people off the ball with a great initial pop.

Moving linemen backwards was not even an option when you watch the retouched play of their offensive line last year and the lack of physicality they played with. While he doesn’t have great movement or athletic traits, his demeanor and passion for the game help turn a weakness into a strength for Zimmer, who wants guys who can set the tempo on both sides of the trenches.

121) ArDarius Stewart, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Whether you like it or not, Treadwell is going to get force fed this ball this year. At just 22, Treadwell is still younger than the large majority of his peers entering the draft this season, meaning his rookie year can be viewed as a redshirt season. With that said, there’s serious talk and worry Treadwell does not have the speed or quickness to separate from defensive backs at the next level.

While that isn’t the end all be all for every wideout, it does put all the emphasis on then being able to win jump ball and physical situations, which remains another big question mark

While Treadwell will get his shot in 2017 as the No. 2 boundary wide out as Stefon Diggs continues to work the inside slot role, Treadwell will be on a short leash as the team deciphers if he can handle the pressure and help Sam Bradford and the offense be much more efficient than last season.

Beyond the starting three this depth chart gets thin — and quick. Jarius Wright (who I still personally like) is the last line of defense, and should an injury ever take place the Vikings would be in dire need of help.

Stewart comes from a long line of Alabama wideouts with big NFL pedigrees, but while he’s not on a Julio Jones or Amari Cooper type level, he does posses great traits of his own that should translate to the net level. Don’t tell Stewart he’s only 5-foot-11, as a player who on the field fights and plays determined like a 6-foot-5 wideout at times.

Stewart plays the game with urgency with a level of energy that’s hard to find, which makes him tough and dangerous to bring down after the catch looking to bulldozer over people when in tight spaces or pinned to the boundary. I love Stewart as an early day three pick should he still be available given his skill-set, energetic mentality, and Crimson Tide pedigree. Regardless of the name on the card, the Vikings must address the wide receiver position at least once this draft bringing in someone they think can be a legitimate contributor in 2018 and beyond.

129) Tanzel Smart, Defensive Tackle, Tulane

With the sudden and unexpected need at defensive tackle, Spielman has a new wrench thrown into the mix. While I like the depth at the defensive interior position, I’m finding the large majority of these guys are more nose tackles — something the Vikings just don’t need with Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen.

Even the good three techniques like Brantley have red flags, as he was cited for domestic abuse just weeks before the draft. Smart is the best value guy you’re going to find as his small-school label will drop him a round more than his talent and potential suggest. A tad undersized while lacking ideal arm length, Smart makes up for it by shooting through the gaps and playing with a relentless motor.

When he finally earned the full time starting job in 2015, he dominated his lower-level competition continuing throughout his career compiling nearly 30 tackles for loss in his final two seasons. This gives you an idea of how quick and balanced he is as he uses his short stature to win the leverage game before slicing into the backfield, similar to the way Aaron Donald plays for the Rams. To get a smaller version of Donald in round four should be considered a huge victory in the war room considering the lack of true three techniques in this draft while filling a major need.

131) Eric Saubert, Tight End, Drake

Kyle Rudolph had his best season as a Viking, but I think it’d be foolish to pass up on great value in the mid-rounds because of it. After all, in his six seasons, Rudy has only played a full 16 games in just three of them. Should he go down the team would be without a vital piece of the passing game and relying solely on last year’s rookie David Morgan II, a guy who won’t scare anybody while running routes.

Saubert is another small-school guy who whooped up on lower level competition that caught over 100 passes and 17 touchdowns. He’s built like a Mack truck at 6-foot-5, 262 pounds and showed off big boy strength at the combine with 22 bench reps. He’s a guy that you can keep inline and help block (something i personally never underestimate again given the need for our tackles to receive extra help last few seasons), as well as move around both in the lost and out wide.

He’ll surprise defenders when finally out in space with great wiggle for such a big man and help get yards after the catch. However, his bread and butter is matching him up on a linebacker and letting him use his long arms to create separation down in the red zone. This is the big-bodied guy who can help an offense — exactly what this team needs should Rudolph ever go down.

160) Brendan Langley, Cornerback, Lamar

Since the arrival of Zimmer, this front office has focused on defensive athletes no matter the position putting faith in his coaching prowess to develop raw, God-given talent. Guys like Barr, Waynes and Danielle Hunter all possessed a freaky trait of length, speed or both. Langley fits that draft pattern to a “T”, with a great blend of juicy athleticism while possessing the size threshold Zimmer prefers of his cornerbacks with his 6-foot-1 frame.

Langley was a former wide receiver not long ago, so he is extremely raw, something I saw first-hand at the Senior Bowl where he gave up a tremendous amount of separation and cushion to his receivers. However, his blend of athletic tools is something you just can’t find on the streets and he’s someone who could develop nicely as a legitimate contributor three years down the road. Keep this name in mind as the Vikings brought him in on their “Top 30” visits, getting an extra look at him during the pre-draft process.

169) Mack Hollins, Wide Receiver, North Carolina

Gosh do I like this kid. Jump on the bandwagon with me as we scoop up this rare blend of length and quickness that scouts couldn’t draw up any better. At 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, Hollins walks into the league already possessing the physical tool set to win one-on-one matchups. Hollins was a big play monster at North Carolina, making Mitchell Trubisky look good as he averaged a ridiculous 24 yards per catch last year and kept it up over his collegiate career with 20 yards per catch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM1RZn6LHpU

Thanks to his 4.5 speed, Hollins can get over the top of cornerbacks and use his physicality to outman his opponent. The only real knock on Hollins is is health, as well as his ability to run crisp routes. Hollins got away with sloppy route running thanks to his big-bodied frame and huge catch radius helping him box out defending cornerbacks. Keep him healthy and he’s a steal of a deal this late in the draft as a developmental guy who could sprinkle in some big plays his rookie year depending on how long a leash you give him.

199) Eric Wilson, Linebacker, Cincinnati

Death, taxes and day-three linebackers is the yearly pattern you can put your money on as long as Spielman is drafting. From Audie Cole, Michael Mauti, Brandon Watts, to Edmond Robinson, Jasper Brinkley and now Wilson, Spielman loves taking a shot on linebackers where he’s had solid success all in all.

Wilson was ultra productive as a former safety that switched to linebacker halfway through his collegiate career at Cincinnati and is a player the Vikings have been linked too after bringing him in on their “Top 30” visits.

Despite not knowing how to play the position to its entirety, Wilson became a tackling machine and the rock of their defense with 129 tackles. Wilson did not show great traits in coverage despite being a former safety but possess the natural sideline-to-sideline instincts to drags ball carriers down. While he may not be the most athletic specimen in the world like Zimmer often caters to, with Barr and Eric Kendricks already on the roster, Wilson will team up with Kentrell Brothers to provide some stability as sure-handed tacklers and ace special teams play.

232) Conor McDermott, Offensive Tackle, UCLA

Keep ’em coming, that’s what I say. With one of the worst offensive lines in the league last year, the Vikings need to bring in as many young big bodies as they can to compete and develop. Sure McDermott struggled down at the Senior Bowl, but you can’t find his size and movement skills on the streets. At a towering 6-foot-7, Mcdermott will only get stronger as he leans on his athletic ability as a former tight end. Hey, if Beavers can be a fourth-round pick, McDermott should get drafted. Let him learn behind the veterans on the team while coaches try to harness his raw size and quick feet.

He fills a huge need while being a low-risk high reward prospect that plays at UCLA.

Spielman is drooling.