For some readers, the sheen has worn off ESPN but there’s little debate that it’s still an NFL powerhouse. As a result, the list of 25 players to monitor ahead of the trade deadline is noteworthy.
Part of what makes the article fascinating is what’s not said. More specifically, there’s almost a complete absence of discussing the Vikings, a team that has conducted 34 trades since welcoming Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as the GM. What kind of insights can be gleaned from the list to help clarify where things are going for the Vikings and the NFL trade deadline?
An NFL Powerhouse & The League Deadline
Start off with a simple reality: not a single Vikings player gets tossed onto the list.
Presumably, there’s a team (or two) out there that would be willing to take a chance on off-ball linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. The 24-year-old linebacker is far from the world’s best defender but he’s an exciting option who can keep growing in his game. Bring him aboard and let him feast on flying forward. The Vikings, quite possibly, would be open to moving on due to Pace being benched recently alongside the difficulty of paying him in the future.
So, the Pace absence does come across as being somewhat odd, especially since there’s even an “Honorable Mention” section.
Several players on the list do have some connection to the Vikings, if only within the online chatter. Corner Ric Woolen, placed at No. 4, has been connected to Minnesota a time or two as a long-and-strong corner with a propensity for physicality. He could take on the Jeff Okudah role, doing so at (presumably) a higher level.
Elsewhere, ESPN does some of the thinking for readers by connecting Minnesota to specific players.
Start off with safety Kyle Dugger, a Patriot who comes in at No. 22. Jeremy Fowler’s assessment: “The belief in league circles is that Dugger would have been dealt before Week 1 but for his cost-prohibitive $9.75 million salary. There was interest then and could be again. Now that New England is sitting at 5-2, perhaps it will revisit a potential deal. However, Dugger has played a combined 102 defensive snaps over the past two weeks due to an injury.”
The Vikings get listed alongside the Giants and Commanders as team fits.
And then there’s the eye-roll option that could actually make sense: re-welcoming Kirk Cousins. Like a monster in a horror flick, Cousins just won’t die within the Vikings rumors.
Consider the assessment: “Like with [Russell] Wilson, Cousins would need injuries at the quarterback position to spark a market. He is 37, and he struggled with interceptions last season (16), but Cousins could help a team in a bind. Wilson has a more team-friendly contract than that of Cousins, whose $10 million guarantee in 2026 is a hurdle.”
Elsewhere within the analysis, there’s a mention of “a Cousins reunion in Minneapolis [being] a convenient talking point for fans and media” due to what’s swirling around Carson Wentz (banged up shoulder and inconsistent play) and J.J. McCarthy (injured and unproven).
With Cousins, the Vikings’ offense could likely become very good. Just consistent competence would be enough to get Minnesota moving in a positive direction. How many points would Wentz’s Vikings have scored had there not been the boneheaded intentional grounding, missing wide open receivers, underthrowing players, and so on?
With the Vikings, there are (at least) five trade candidates to monitor for getting shipped out:
- Ivan Pace Jr., LB3
- T.J. Hockenson, TE1
- Justin Skule, OT3
- Jalen Nailor, WR3
- Javon Hargrave, DT2/3
As for players who could help out from that ESPN list, keep an eye on Cleveland runner Jerome Ford (No. 23) if Aaron Jones returning doesn’t assuage the rushing concerns; we’ll have to see what health looks like for the veteran. Offensive tackle Evan Neal (No. 25) fits the profile for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as someone who was chosen very high but who hasn’t worked out.
At corner, one thinks of Woolen (already discussed) alongside Roger McCreary (No. 14 on the list). Defensive end Arnold Ebiketie (No. 16 on the list) of the Atlanta Falcons similarly offers some reason for fascination due to his size, age, draft status, and history as a decent pass rusher.
Armed with several draft picks, the Vikings could very well be a buyer before the NFL trade deadline, which arrives on November 4th.
If, perchance, you’re the sort of fan who enjoys seeing the Vikings add talent, then look for wins in Week 8 and Week 9. Overcoming the Chargers and Lions — sitting at 5-3 as a result — would be a strong message to the GM to add talent with the hope of doing something special in 2025.
