EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. —After drafting defensive back Mackensie Alexander in the second round of the NFL Draft, the Vikings opted to trade away their third-round selection to Miami.
The Vikings received a sixth-round pick in this year's draft, as well as third- and fourth-round picks in 2017 from the Dolphins.
If Miami is awarded a compensatory selection in the fourth round of next year's draft, it will be sent to Minnesota. If the Dolphins are not awarded a compensatory selection, the Vikings will receive the Dolphins next lowest pick (or only one) that round. A rule change this year allowed for trading of compensatory selections beginning in 2017.
Spielman said multiple factors influenced his decision to swap what he considers "potentially three players for the price of one."
"Going through the logic on why that made sense to me," Spielman said, "there were a couple of things: looking at the depth and what our current roster looks like this year, the second point is looking at what our roster and potential guys that are going to be coming out of contract next year, and third, I would say the depth on the board left tomorrow."
"I feel very strongly that there are a lot of talented football players that we will be able to pick up and add to our roster," Spielman added.
Spielman pointed out that banking an extra third and fourth rounder would allow the Vikings considerable flexibility to move around in early rounds.
This is the 39th trade involving a draft pick the Vikings have made since 2007, Spielman's first draft with Minnesota. The GM has made at least one trade every year in that span.
It is the first draft that the Vikings have not made a selection in the third round since 2013 when that pick was part of a deal to move back into the first round and select Cordarrelle Patterson 29th overall.
The Vikings are scheduled to make the following selections on Saturday:
Fourth round (121 overall)
Fifth round (160 overall)
Sixth round (180 and 186 overall)
Seventh round (240 and 244 overall)
Minnesota has a first, second, two thirds, two fourths, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh for next year.
