The Minnesota Vikings are in a fascinating position with a 3-4 record, watching the NFC North title race unfold in last place. It will be hard for Kevin O’Connell’s operation to enter that race, especially with the way his unit has looked through the first seven games of the season.
And that’s why many are already done thinking about the playoffs and want to prepare the franchise in the best possible way for the future. One key date for that is next week’s trade deadline. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has mostly acquired players at that time of the year, but it’s not far-fetched to expect the organization to look for possible deals that would send players away.
There’s a Vikings Plot Twist Ahead of the Trade Deadline
Those could include Javon Hargrave, Aaron Jones, Jalen Nailor, or even T.J. Hockenson. That would probably require the Vikings to be internally ready to concede their Super Bowl aspirations for the remainder of the season, something usually only teams with an abysmal 1-7 record do.
But not so fast, says one reporter. Albert Breer of SI.com revealed his trade deadline primer on Friday, and it included some fascinating nuggets like players that could be available or have earned some interest (no Vikings).
Well, it turns out that — if Breer is correct — the Vikings might be buyers, not sellers, and they seem to target one specific position.
Breer wrote, “As for buyers, the Vikings and Colts are among a list of teams looking for corners. That market isn’t rich with options, which could make the Rams (McCreary), Browns (Tyson Campbell), and Eagles (Michael Carter II) look smart for striking a little earlier. Indy could also look at adding an edge player, and teams have called to inquire on the Colts’ own surplus of receivers, so a wideout could end up being a chip for them in a trade.”
The cornerback position has been in the headlines for far too long in the Twin Cities, including during the entire 2025 offseason. Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin departed, while Byron Murphy Jr. was re-signed and paired with free agent Isaiah Rodgers. Behind them, the front office hired Jeff Okudah. He’s now missing time with his second concussion of the season, and his play has been worthy of a snap reduction.
Overall, the roster has always felt a cornerback short, and the entire fan base wanted Adofo-Mensah to sign (or trade for) another one pretty much from March to August.
In his article, Breer mentions that Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor has garnered some interest. He’s on an expiring deal, and the Saints still want day-two draft capital. Another option could be Miami’s veteran Rasul Douglas. The Dolphins have already parted ways with their GM, and players could follow, as their season is already looking like a lost cause. In Seattle, tall corner Riq Woolen is in the final year of his rookie contract. Perhaps the Seahawks would send him to the Twin Cities as a thank-you gift for letting Sam Darnold walk.
There are two schools of thought here.
One, the Vikings could be looking to add a piece for the final ten games of this season to replace Okudah or strengthen depth in general. That stopgap player wouldn’t cost a ton, but the position would be a mystery once again next offseason.
Two, the Vikings are interested in adding a long-term solution, someone who they plan to have for the next two, three, or four seasons, pretty much comparable to the T.J. Hockenson trade in 2022. That would be more expensive, especially if they have to extend a contract.
Either way, it doesn’t seem like the Vikings are ready to concede. Sunday’s game could play a role, though.
The NFL trade deadline is on Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
