Cardinals Want THREE First-Round Picks For No. 4 Overall Selection But There Are Issues Getting That

The 2024 NFL draft begins when the Chicago Bears make the first pick the evening of April 25 and no one is arguing that. But the intrigue begins several picks later when the Cardinals and Vikings begin to carry what is so far a private conversation into a public war of wills.

If the draft goes as many experts expect – with the Bears picking quarterback Caleb Williams, the Washington Commanders picking Jaylen Daniels and the New England Patriots possibly picking Drake Maye – the draft would then turn to a curious dance between the Cardinals and Vikings.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 31: Kyler Murray #1 celebrates with Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort following the win against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

Monti Ossenfort Put Out Open Sign

Between general managers Monti Ossenfort and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

And the stakes are nothing less than the next five or more years for both franchises.

It's no secret the Cardinals, holding the No. 4 selection, are willing to trade it. 

"There will be a big neon sign that says 'open,'" Ossenfort told reporters in March.

He was kidding about the neon sign. But he was serious about being open to trading the pick. So serious, in fact, that multiple NFL sources have confirmed to OutKick the Cardinals have spoken with multiple teams about trading their pick.

One of the sources said his club spoke with Ossenfort.

General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings speaks to the media during the NFL Combine. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Adofo-Mensah Has Flexibility

The Vikings, similarly, have made no secret of the fact they're interested in landing a starting quarterback. The club is holding the No. 11 and No. 23 picks in the first round and is exploring a package involving one (but more likely both) of those picks to get high enough to select that QB.

"We just looked at every scenario and said, 'OK, well, what if this happens, how would you play this out? Or this happens? How would you play this out?' And we just thought that that move gave us the best flexibility for whatever can happen," Mensah said after the trade.

Yes, the Vikings have Sam Darnold on the roster as their bridge quarterback but would like to draft their future quarterback – with all the whispers surrounding Michigan's J.J. McCarthy because he "fits" Minnesota's offense, per a source.

So what we have is a situation in which a team wanting to add multiple good players can trade down with a team willing to trade up to select a quarterback.

A perfect marriage, right?

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 24: Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort looks on before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)

Cards Know History Of Potential Trade

Not quite. At least certainly not yet.

NFL general managers, you see, fancy themselves trade barons. Many like to make deals but want to make sure they're doing what is always in the best interest of their clubs.

And Ossenfort has in conversations made it known it's in the best interest of the Cardinals to pick up three first-round picks in exchange for the No. 4 overall selection, if he has to drop a significant amount in the first round.

Ossenfort has something of a case. He can bring up the 2021 draft in which the 49ers sent to the Dolphins a first-round pick in 2021, 2022 and 2023, plus a third-round pick in 2022 in order to vault from the No. 12 overall spot to No. 3.

The fact the Cardinals are floating three first-round picks in return for their pick in what basically would be a trade for J.J. McCarthy is an open secret now.

"I know when we were out there on the pro day tour, just talking to some people, I heard a lot of things of Minnesota who thought [McCarthy] had an excellent pro day," former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said recently on the NFLDraft podcast. 

"But they're not going to get it for just the two [first-round picks]. They're going to have to throw in their first round pick in 2025, plus some more draft capital to do what they have to do to go up and get him." 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 14: Former Vikings general manger Rick Spielman has heard talk about the Vikings and a possible trade up on the pro day circuit. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Trade Going To Take A Lot For Vikings

And this is where the perfect scenario hits obstacles. Because the Vikings aren't enthusiastic about giving up three first-round picks, with two of those coming in the same draft, to improve eight spots in the draft.

They would prefer to massage the scenario to where they give up other draft capital in the future but not another first-rounder to bring the total cost of first-rounders to three. 

The Cardinals obviously believe they have a strong argument because the Vikings are kind of desperate and they're not the only team with whom they've talked. The Broncos may be interested in a trade. The Raiders may be interested as well, although to what degree is uncertain.

There may even be a mystery team, if the right player is available. 

The Cardinals could tell the Vikings the price of the No. 4 pick is high because demand is high.

The Vikings, meanwhile, know they're the only team that could offer two first-rounders this year. Such a trade would give the Cardinals three first-round picks this draft.

Three!

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 29: J.J. McCarthy of Michigan poses for portraits at the Indiana Convention Center on February 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

McCarthy Is Vikings Presumed Target

That's because the Cardinals also hold the No. 27 pick from Houston. So the Cardinals could walk away with the Nos. 11, 23 and 27 selections.

And while the Vikings want a chance at McCarthy, the Cardinals also want a chance to turn the first-round into a franchise defining opportunity.

It's possible sanity prevails and the Vikings offer capital that is something other than a 2025 first-rounder. Maybe a conditional third-rounder next year that rises to a No. 2 if McCarthy [assuming he's the guy] plays a certain number of snaps?

It's also possible the Cardinals balk and simply turn in their draft card, thus disappointing themselves, their fans, and putting a tremendous amount of pressure on whatever player they do select at No. 4.

That doesn't sound quite so attractive, does it?

That's the reason these trade talks are already underway.