NFL Rumors: Vikings Trade for Texans' No. 23 Draft Pick; Teams Swap More Selections

The Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans reportedly agreed to a trade Friday that will send the No. 23 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft from Houston to Minnesota.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Vikings are receiving the No. 23 overall pick and a seventh-rounder (No. 232) in the 2024 NFL draft for a 2024 second-rounder (No. 42), a sixth-rounder (No. 188) and a 2025 second-round pick.

The trade gives the Vikes the Nos. 11 and 23 overall picks in this year's draft, while the Texans are now without a first-round pick.

Minnesota is clearly in a state of transition after veteran starting quarterback Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.

That left the Vikings with a gaping hole at quarterback, and they took one step toward filling it by signing Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal.

While Darnold could begin the 2024 campaign as Minnesota's starting quarterback, he isn't likely the long-term answer. He crashed out as the New York Jets' and Carolina Panthers' starting quarterback and spent last season as Brock Purdy's backup on the San Francisco 49ers.

It has long been assumed that the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots would use the first three picks in the 2024 draft on USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye, in some order.

If any of those three teams waver in their desire to take a quarterback, Minnesota now perhaps has the ammunition needed to execute a trade up with one of them.

Failing that, the Vikings can still package Nos. 11 and 23 to trade up outside the top three to secure Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy if they don't believe he will fall to 11th overall.

Other potential first-round quarterbacks include Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix, but the Vikings likely wouldn't have to trade up for either of them.

Minnesota has a dream supporting cast for a rookie quarterback, including star wide receiver Justin Jefferson and tight end in T.J. Hockenson. Wideout Jordan Addison also dazzled as a rookie last season, and the Vikings added an accomplished running back this offseason in Aaron Jones, who signed with them after the Green Bay Packers released him.

If McCarthy is the Vikings' desired and most likely target, they could get a quarterback who did a lot of winning in college.

The 21-year-old signal-caller went 27-1 in two seasons as Michigan's starter, winning the Big Ten and reaching the College Football Playoff in 2022 before going a perfect 15-0 and winning the national championship last season.

McCarthy didn't put up huge numbers due to head coach Jim Harbaugh's propensity for running the ball, but he accounted for 25 total touchdowns and threw just four interceptions last season.

If the Vikings do select McCarthy, he would have the benefit of not necessarily being pressed into action immediately. He could sit and learn behind Darnold until he is ready to take over as the starter.