The NFL Draft is fast approaching, and last week we saw the first of what will be dozens of moves come draft weekend. The Vikings are usually one of the more active teams during the draft, and GM Rick Spielman likes to wheel and deal up and down the draft board, in just about every round.

But how active are the Vikings, really? Let's take a look. We're going to do a couple things. For one, we'll compare how many trades the Vikings made with the rest of the NFL, and then we'll analyze how they traded. Did they move up or down, and what the parameters of the deal were. To do that, we'll use the five year period from 2011-2015, and my reference source will be the ESPN draft trade tracker from 2011, and the NFL.com draft trade tracker from 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Why only 2011? Although Spielman has been on the Vikings staff since 2006, he never had a fair amount of autonomy over the roster until after Brad Childress was fired in 2010, as Childress had final say in all roster moves. He didn't become the general manager until 2012, but has had a major influence over the draft since 2011, so we'll include that season. Besides, five years is a nice clean number, and gives us enough of a sample size to make reasonable conclusions.

So, first of all, let's look at how many trades each team has made involving draft picks since 2011. These include players for pick trades, like the Vikings trade to Seattle for Percy Harvin. This does not include just player for player trades; there must be at least one draft pick involved in the deal to be included, regardless of round.

NFL Draft Trades By Team, 2011-2015 Team 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total NFC NORTH Minnesota 1 4 3 4 5 17 Green Bay 3 3 4 0 1 11 Detroit 1 3 1 2 5 12 Chicago 1 1 1 1 2 6 NFC EAST Washington 5 3 0 2 2 12 Philadelphia 4 3 2 5 4 19 NY Giants 0 0 1 0 2 3 Dallas 0 1 1 2 4 8 NFC SOUTH Carolina 0 1 0 1 2 4 Atlanta 2 2 2 1 1 8 New Orleans 1 0 2 2 4 9 Tampa Bay 1 4 5 2 7 17 NFC WEST Arizona 0 0 3 1 2 6 Seattle 1 2 3 4 4 14 St Louis/LA 1 3 3 1 4 12 San Francisco 3 4 7 6 5 25 AFC EAST New England 4 4 2 1 5 16 NY Jets 1 1 2 0 5 9 Buffalo 0 1 1 6 3 11 Miami 2 3 4 3 3 15 AFC NORTH Cincinnati 0 1 0 1 0 2 Pittsburgh 0 1 1 0 0 2 Baltimore 1 2 2 1 5 11 Cleveland 3 2 4 5 5 19 AFC SOUTH Houston 2 1 2 2 2 9 Indianapolis 1 1 1 0 5 8 Jacksonville 2 1 1 3 1 8 Tennessee 0 1 1 2 2 6 AFC WEST Denver 2 3 1 2 4 12 Kansas City 1 0 1 0 2 4 Oakland 1 1 4 3 2 11 San Diego 0 1 1 1 2 5

A couple of interesting things to note. The nickname 'Trader Rick' is well earned for Spielman, as he has swung 17 trades since 2011, tied for fourth with Tampa Bay, and only trailing Cleveland, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. And Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson, who has a reputation of building the Packers through the draft, doesn't make as many deals as I had thought. The Packers are active, but they actually trail Detroit in terms of deals struck, which surprised me. On the other end of the spectrum, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh rarely make trades, just two each, which was the fewest among the 32 teams, with the New York Giants next at only three deals.

And for all the trades Cleveland has made...lol Cleveland.

Now, let's break down the deals the Vikings made, and then determine if there are any trends. We've looked at the first round trades, if you just want to focus on those, but we'll include them again here. The point values I'm using will be from the NFL trade value chart that Drafttek.com publishes.

Note: In a trade that involves either a player or future draft picks, I am not including point values in the trade, since you can't place point values on a player or future draft picks per the trade chart.

2011:

Trade: The Vikings trade pick 150 (31 points) to Cleveland for picks 168 (23.8 points) and 170 (23 points)

Result: Cleveland chose OL Jason Pinkston with pick 150. Minnesota selected OL DeMarcus Love at 168, and S Mistral Raymond at 170.

Analysis: Vikings come out on top points wise at +15.8, and it nets them two backup guys. A minor move, but an early indicator that if there's no one in particular that the Vikings are targeting, a trade down for more picks is something Spielman isn't afraid to do. It was an 18 spot drop, albeit late in the draft.

2012:

Trade: Minnesota trades pick 3 (2200) to Cleveland for picks 4 (1800), 118 (58), 139 (36), and 211 (6.5)

Result: Cleveland selects RB Trent Richardson. Minnesota selects Matt Kalil (4), Jarius Wright (118), Robert Blanton (139), and later traded pick 211.

Analysis: Cleveland came out on top in point value by 299.5 points, but the Vikings really got the better end of this deal. Everyone knew they were going to draft Matt Kalil, yet Spielman somehow convinced Cleveland that either the Vikings were going to pick Richardson, or another team was getting ready to move up and select Richardson. That one spot gave Minnesota three extra picks for the one spot move. It was the first trade that Spielman made that made Vikings fans sit up and take notice that they might actually have a GM that actually knew what he was doing. Getting the player you wanted and still getting three picks on top of that was probably the best trade he's made.

Trade: Baltimore trades pick 29 (640) to the Vikings for picks 35 (550) and 98 (108)

Result: Vikings draft S Harrison Smith. Baltimore selects Courtney Upshaw (35) and Gino Gradkowski (98).

Analysis: The trade was dead even from a point value, and it was the first trade back in to the first round Spielman made as Vikings GM. It was a good move, as Smith has become a mainstay on the Vikings defense, and all it cost the Vikings, essentially, was a 4th round pick.

Trade: Lions trade pick 219 and 2013 4th round pick for pick 138 and 223

Result: Lions select Tahir Whitehead (138) and Travis Lewis (223). Minnesota picks Trevor Guyton (219), and later trades that 2013 4th round pick to New England the following year.

Analysis: This was a looking ahead draft, as Spielman netted a decent round pick for 2013, and used it to make a blockbuster deal in in that draft. When looking at these type of deals, putting them in full context is important, and this trade, while on the surface just a minor deal, laid the ground work for something else down the road.

Trade: Titans trade 2013 6th round pick for pick 211.

Result: Tennessee selects Scott Solomon. Minnesota would trade this pick during the 2013 draft.

Analysis: Again, another trade that allowed Spielman to amass picks in 2013 for potential future deals.

2013:

Trade: Seattle trades pick 25, 214, and a mid round 1014 pick for WR Percy Harvin.

Result: Seattle gets Harvin and won the Super Bowl in 2013...yet Harvin played in only one game in the regular season. So to say that trade was the one that put the Seahawks over the top is false, as they were a very good team without Harvin. The Vikings used pick 25 to draft Xavier Rhodes, 214 to draft Travis Bond, and the mid round pick became Jerick McKinnon at the end of the 3rd round in 2014.

Analysis: This turned out to be a great trade for the Vikings, as they got rid of a player that had become a major pain in the ass, and got a first round pick for him when virtually no one thought that was possible. The Vikings now have a solid starter in Rhodes, and an heir apparent to Adrian Peterson with McKinnon. For Seattle, Harvin only played five games in less than two seasons while becoming a major pain in the ass for them, and the Seahawks traded him to the Jets in the middle of the 2014 season. Late last week it was announced that Harvin was retiring from the NFL. If you make me rank order Spielman's trades from best to worst, this trade makes a strong case for the top spot.

Trade: Vikings trade pick 52 (380), 83 (175) , 102 (92), and 229 (2) to New England for pick 29 (640)

Result: Vikings draft Cordarrelle Patterson at 29. New England drafts Jamie Collins (52), Logan Ryan 83, Josh Boyce (102), and trade pick 229 to Tampa Bay. Points wise, it was a slight edge to New England, 649 to 640, and three years in this looks like a much better deal for the Patriots. Collins has become a really good linebacker for New England while Patterson has struggled at receiver, yet has been one of the league's best kick returners.

Analysis: At the time, a lot of people thought this was a questionable move, but I really liked it. Yes, it was four picks for one, but when you break it down, the second for the first cancelled each other out. When the smoke cleared, Minnesota was out a third round pick and an extra fourth round pick, yet got back into the first round for a guy a lot of people thought was the best receiver in the draft. Steep, but with three first round picks in that draft, it was a fairly low risk maneuver when taken in the grans scheme of things.

It was an indication that if Spielman has enough draft picks that will keep the Vikings from sitting out two or three rounds, he'll be aggressive and make a move to get an impact player at a position the team needs. And the fact he can do it without sacrificing that draft or outlying drafts is actually a pretty impressive feat. Don't think so? Look at the trade the Rams made with Tennessee, and tell me that was a smart move by Los Angeles.

Although Patterson had a solid rookie campaign, he's struggled since then, and unless something dramatic happens for Flash on the field in 2016, this trade, even though it was bold and fairly pragmatic, will be one of the negative marks on Spielman's legacy.

Trade: Vikings trade pick 189 (15.4) to Tampa Bay for picks 196 (12.6) and 229 (1.9)

Result: Tampa Bay drafts Mike James. Minnesota drafts Jeff Baca (196) and Everette Dawkins (229).

Analysis: Not any picks that stand out here, but it's shows a tendency for Spielman to try and make up picks, if you will, when he makes a trade where he loses more overall net picks than he gains, like the Patterson deal.

2014:

Trade: Browns trade pick 9 (1350) to Minnesota for pick 8 (1400) and pick 145 (33)

Result: Cleveland selects Justin Gilbert. Minnesota drafts Anthony Barr (8) and David Yankey (145)

Analysis: With quarterback a huge need for the Vikings, and both top players on the board in Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel, the Vikings once again trade down a spot with the Browns and select Barr, who is quickly becoming one of the best young linebackers in the game. It was a somewhat risky move in not selecting a QB here, but two things Spielman has become known for--pragmatic aggression and sticking to your plan--will bear fruit later.

Trade: Vikings trade pick 40 (500) and 108 (78) for to Seattle for pick 32 (590)

Result: Minnesota selects Teddy Bridgewater. Seattle trades pick 40 to Detroit. With 108 they select Cassius Marsh.

Analysis: The second trade with Seattle in two years that involves a first round pick sees the Vikings nab Teddy Bridgewater with the last pick of the first round. Bridgewater's stock dropped dramatically after a sub par pro day, and the Vikings, who looked like the odd man out for a quarterback after a failed attempt to move up to 22, were able to make the stunning move to get back into the first round and get their QB issue solved. It cost the Vikings a 4th round pick, but 10 years from now, assuming Bridgewater pans out, this will probably be judged as the best draft trade Spielman made.

My liver also suffered greatly, as my alcohol intake from the Barr pick to this pick was tenfold what it normally would've been. It still hasn't recovered.

Trade: Panthers trade pick 168 (23.8) and pick 225 (2.3) to the Vikings for pick 148 (31.8)

Result: Panthers select Bene Benwikere. Vikings trade pick 169 to Atlanta. With pick 225, they select Jabari Price.

Analysis: It was a minor deal, but again it was one that had the Vikings get an extra net pick after they had lost a net pick in an earlier trade, and will use one of these picks to trade down for yet more picks.

Trade: Vikings trade pick 168 (23.8) to Atlanta for pick 182 (18.2) and 220 (3)

Result: Falcons draft Marquis Spruill at pick 168. The Vikings draft Antone Exum (182) and Shamar Stephen (220).

Analysis: Once again, with no player on the board the Vikings particularly like--or think they can get later--they make another trade to get extra picks. Coming off of a 5-10-1 season, Spielman looks to trade down and acquire picks, looking to build roster depth..

2015:

Trade: Dolphins trade Mike Wallace and pick 232 to the Vikings for pick 149

Result: The Vikings give up a middle round pick for a guy that they think can be a key component to the deep strike offense Norv Turner likes to run.

Analysis: Of all of Rick Spielman's trades involving draft picks, only three involved players. One was the Harvin trade, one was a trade we'll talk about next, and the Wallace deal was the only one that Spielman made where the Vikings received a player. It was low risk move for the potential that Wallace brought to the offense. No, it didn't work out, as the Vikings released him a few weeks ago, but for a fifth round pick it was a trade that had no downside.

Trade: Vikings trade Matt Cassel and pick 188 to Buffalo for pick 137

Result: Vikings trade 137 to Atlanta. Buffalo selects Tony Steward.

Analysis: With Teddy Bridgewater established as the Vikings once and future quarterback, everyone knew that Matt Cassel's time with the Vikings was coming to a close. So Spielman makes his third trade with a player involved, and the fact that the Vikings could get anything for Cassel was somewhat of a coup in and of itself.

Trade: Vikings trade pick 76 (210) to the Chiefs for picks 80 (190) and 193 (13.8)

Result: Vikings trade pick 80 to Detroit. Chiefs select B.J. DuBose with pick 193.

Analysis: Although Rick Spielman has said he uses the draft trade chart as a guide, he's not concerned with an evening out of the chart numbers. Without analyzing every trade, I can't say if every GM feels this way, but with Spielman, as long as the points are in the ballpark with one another, generally speaking, he'll pull the trigger. The notable exception was the Kalil trade, but that was one spot that netted three extra picks, and they still got the guy they wanted and only sacrificed one spot of draft positioning.

Trade: Vikings trade pick 80 (190) to the Lions for pick 88 (150) and 143 (34)

Result: Detroit drafts Alex Carter. The Vikings select Danielle Hunter (88) and MyCole Pruitt (143.

Analysis: Two trades down in the third round net the Vikings a fifth and a sixth round pick. A lot of people questioned the Hunter pick at the time, as his production at the collegiate level didn't really seem to warrant such a high pick. But by the time it's all said and done, though, Hunter might be a key part of what could be one of the best draft classes in team history, as the team saw them draft not only Hunter, but Eric Kendricks, Trae Waynes, and Stefon Diggs.

And the Vikings aren't afraid to trade with division rival Detroit, which I found surprising. They've made two trades with the Lions, and if we were to go back to 2010, they also made a trade that got the Lions into the back end of the first round, and dropped the Vikes completely out of round one.

Trade: Vikings trade pick 137 (37.5) to the Falcons for picks 146 (32.6) and 185 (17)

Result: Falcons select Cody Jarrett. Minnesota drafts Stefon Diggs (146) and Tyrus Thompson (185).

Analysis: This is the conclusion of a couple of trades that started with the Matt Cassel trade to the Bills. When the smoke clears, the Vikings were able to move down, get another pick, and get what is turning out to be the steal of the entire 2015 draft in Diggs, if he continues his upward projection.

Observations: I've used the term a couple times, but I liken Spielman's approach to the draft and draft trades as pragmatic aggressiveness. He will not move up in the first round to the point where it costs him an entire draft class, but he will make an aggressive move to get a guy he feels will make an impact on the team. If he has extra picks in the third and fourth round, I think his preference is to move up, and will do so if given an opportunity married to a player he wants. He likes first round picks, and has no problem sacrificing a second round pick to get additional picks in the top 32, but will make up for it by trying to accumulate fourth and fifth round picks later.

Although the draft trade chart is a guide, 'winning' the points battle as outlined in the chart isn't a requirement to make a trade. For Spielman, it's all about getting extra picks if he's moving down, or giving just enough picks to move up where he wants to, without compromising either the current set of picks or drafts in out years.

Even though it's easy to pan certain picks after the fact, it's tough to look at these trades and say the Vikings came out on the short end of the stick on any of them. You can make an argument for the 2013 trade with the Patriots that got them back into the first round to get Patterson, but a counter to that argument could be as much of the disappointment in Patterson the player than the trade that got Patterson to the Vikings.

Prediction:

What will the Vikings do? I don't see the them moving up in the first round, at least initially. Unless Spielman can get additional second, third, or fourth round picks, there is little room to move up, except two or maybe three spaces. That would cost a fourth round pick, and I don't see Spielman sacrificing a fourth round pick just to move up two or three spots.

But I do see a scenario where Minnesota trades down several spots, drafts a player they need, and then uses a second round pick and a portion of the picks accumulated in the trade to make a move back into the first round. Yes, he'll need a dance partner, but giving up his second round pick plus a surplus third or fourth round pick to move back into the first round would be a classic Spielman move. Past the first round, I expect movement in both direction, and at the end of the draft, don't be surprised to see the Vikings with an extra pick or two heading into the 2017 draft.