2018 NFL Draft: Vikings can pick no higher than 25th overall

Yes, I know. . .the Minnesota Vikings really don’t have to concern themselves with the 2018 NFL Draft quite yet. However, it is something to have on the radar now that the offseason has started for 20 of the NFL’s 32 franchises.

Here, as it stands right now, is the draft order for the 20 non-playoff teams.

1. Cleveland Browns
2. New York Giants
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston Texans)
5. Denver Broncos
6. New York Jets
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Chicago Bears
9. Oakland Raiders*
10. San Francisco 49ers*
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Cincinnati Bengals
13. Washington Redskins
14. Green Bay Packers
15. Arizona Cardinals
16. Baltimore Ravens
17. Los Angeles Chargers
18. Seattle Seahawks
19. Dallas Cowboys
20. Detroit Lions

The #9 and #10 picks will be determined by a coin flip between the Raiders and the Niners that will take place at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine.

The other 12 spots will be filled based on when teams lose in the postseason.

• Spots #21, #22, #23, and #24 will be occupied by teams that lose on Wild Card Weekend, ordered by record.
• Spots #25, #26, #27, and #28 will be occupied by teams that lose in the Divisional Playoffs.
• Spots #29 and #30 will be occupied by teams that lose the Conference Championship Games.
• Spot #31 will be occupied by the team that loses Super Bowl LII.
• Spot #32 will be occupied by the team that wins Super Bowl LII.

Since the Vikings already have a bye directly to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, that means that their first-round selection will be no higher than #25 overall. Hopefully they’ll be looking at a pick that’s significantly after that. Maybe, say, around #32-ish.