The Buffalo Bills are in need for safety help and CBS Sports NFL draft editor Kyle Stackpole projects the Minnesota Vikings will trade their No. 24 selection in the first round to the Bills for their No. 30 pick and their fourth-round selection, No. 104 overall.
Stackpole said the trade will allow the Bills to draft Nick Emmamwori, a safety from South Carolina. Emmanwori ran a 4.38 at the NFL Scouting Combine at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. Total freakish speed.
By trading down, the Vikings will still be in a position to get needed help to protect second-year rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The editor has the Vikings selecting Grey Zabel, an interior offensive lineman from North Dakota State. However, many believe after a successful combine, Zabel will go well before the 30th selection.
According to Stackpole, the Bills have traded up in the first round of four of the last six drafts. This year should be no different.
"The Bills have traded up in the first round in four of the last six drafts, and they do so again here, adding a Swiss Army knife to their defense in Nick Emmanwori," Stackpole said.
In other words, a clever trade-up is almost a tradition around here.
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Stackpole acknowledges the Vikings lost three starting offensive lineman in free agency, but did add back two new players. With Zabel's versatility they will be able to adequately protect McCarthy, who is coming back from a season-ending injury.
"The Vikings need help along the offensive line, and Grey Zabel has played a bunch of different positions in his career," Stackpole said. "It would be a good problem to have for Minnesota, which could draft him and then figure out his best spot afterwards.
It should be noted Zabel played mostly left tackle in college, but made the move inside during Senior Bowl week and really excelled.
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This story was originally published March 29, 2025 at 8:46 PM.