Minnesota Vikings fans were not happy about the team trading from the No. 12 to the No. 32 spot in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Minnesota Vikings fans, much like any fanbase, was looking forward to the first-round of the NFL Draft. The team hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their general manager and Kevin O’Connell as their head coach. For fans wanting to see what the first pick of the new regime would be, they had to wait a bit.
The Vikings were set to pick at the No. 12 spot in the first-round, but then, a trade was announced. Minnesota agreed to terms on a trade with the rival Detroit Lions that essentially moved them down 20 whole spots to the No. 32-overall pick.
Here are the full details of the trade:
Details of the deal https://t.co/ZQHlmqozwj pic.twitter.com/ssFfSWhFMK
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 29, 2022
Some Minnesota fans on Twitter were, well, not exactly to happy about the deal.
Vikings fans are furious with trade down in NFL Draft
I want to know what part of analytics thought this was a great idea. @Vikings
— Alexis (@lexyarnold) April 29, 2022
Kwesi needs to get a tutorial on the draft value chart...we got worked
— Jason Telecky (@jtmontifb) April 29, 2022
— Brian Noyes (@BNoyes113) April 29, 2022
If I were the Vikings ownership, I would fire my GM mid draft for that trade. It was that bad.
— MN State Of Hockey (@MNState0fHockey) April 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/cusomann/status/1519853075447488512
This trade is insanely bad...
— Aaron (Wolves Back) (@Perrywinkle1267) April 29, 2022
Like did Kwessi hit the wrong button or what
Vikings basically traded down 20 spots in the first for a 3rd rounder. WTF
— Optimistic Vikings fan (@Superskolfan) April 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/GriddyEnjoyer/status/1519852205049843712
https://twitter.com/cusomann/status/1519853075447488512
If you wanted to get a visual of Vikings fans reacting to the trade in real time, just take a look at the video provided by Sean Borman of VikingsTerritory.com at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Reaction of the #Vikings trade by the US Bank Stadium crowd pic.twitter.com/57PqTb60qe
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) April 29, 2022
At first glance, many thought that the Lions were making the move all the way up to the No. 12 spot for a quarterback. With many anticipating it to be either Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett or Liberty’s Malik Willis, Detroit made the trade up the draft board to select Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams.
The Vikings used the No. 32 pick to select Georgia safety Lewis Cine. In three seasons, Cine recorded 144 total tackles, 14 defended passes and two interceptions.