Cleveland Browns Trade with Minnesota Vikings a Classic Win-Win

The first major move of the 2012 NFL draft night has the Cleveland Browns sending their first-, fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round picks to the Minnesota Vikings for the right to move up one spot.

And with the newly-acquired No. 3 overall pick, the Browns selected the apple of their eye, Alabama running back Trent Richardson. The move ensured that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers couldn't leap-frog them to grab Richardson, which apparently was their plan. 

I know many will give the Browns grief about giving up that many picks to move up one spot, but I can't kill Browns president Mike Holmgren for ensuring he gets what many consider to be the best football player in this draft. It helps his young quarterback Colt McCoy, it helps his beleaguered offense...it helps his whole team. 

For the Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, this is exactly what they needed. One NFL personnel guy I talked to earlier tonight said one of the least talked about aspects of the NFL offseason is how absolutely decimated the Vikings roster is, and how they are bereft of talent at way too many positions. 

This trade will help in two ways. It ensures they get at least three more bites at the apple, selection-wise, and they are able to get whoever they wanted at No. 3 while picking at No. 4. 

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has made a great move for his franchise here—maybe he'll do a quiet dance as he throws darts at Bill Parcells' picture...