Four Plausible Trade Partners for Vikings
Josh Frey
|
The trade deadline is fast approaching in the NFL, and all signs seem to point to the Vikings attempting to make a move to improve their roster. Here are four teams that could be plausible trade partners for the Vikings.
Denver Broncos
Denver remains the most likely partner for Minnesota, especially if they want to improve at wide receiver. Both Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler are reportedly available at this point, and Jeudy in particular would be a great addition to the Vikings offense.
That’s not all, though. If you play fantasy football, then you probably remember that Broncos TE Albert Okwuegbunam was one of the more hyped-up tight ends going into the season. With his physical traits, and Russell Wilson running the offense, it seemed like he could emerge as a top-10 player at the position.
No such luck has occurred through seven weeks. Since Week 1, he has just two receptions and has been targeted five times. Rookie Greg Dulcich emerged as TE1 over the past couple weeks, and now, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Okwuegbunam dealt by the deadline. With Minnesota’s consistent needs at tight end, perhaps they could be a landing spot for the once-promising 24-year-old.
Houston Texans
If the Vikings truly are after a whale at the deadline, the Texans are the most likely target. Minnesota has been reportedly interested in Brandin Cooks, who would instantly add serious depth at WR behind Justin Jefferson.
However, dealing for Cooks could prove to be a daunting task given Minnesota’s salary cap situation. If this proves to be too big an obstacle to overcome, there are other Texans players that could be available. One player that comes to mind is CB Desmond King II. He’s on the right side of 30 and plays well on a consistent basis.
Considering the Texans are among the bottom teams in the league at the deadline, it’s feasible that they could be big time sellers in pursuit of draft picks this spring.
Miami Dolphins
Miami is another place to look for a tight end down the stretch of the year. Mike Gesicki is a free agent at the end of the season, and supposedly, the Dolphins are expected to move the tight end by the trade deadline.
Just a couple weeks ago against Minnesota, Gesicki caught six passes for 69 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That’s just about as much production as the Vikings have gotten out of the tight end position all season, and Gesicki offers much more as a blocker than Irv Smith.
Once again, cap space will be the issue for the Vikings to get a deal done here, but if they can navigate that, then this could be a great addition to the offense.
New York Jets
The Jets are one of the most surprising teams in the NFL this year at 5-2. That said, they could look to offload a few depth pieces with the emergence of younger players this year.
One that comes to mind is CB Bryce Hall, who after starting 16 games in 2021, has struggled to see the field this season. He is a versatile CB with experience all over the field and could be a valuable asset to Minnesota down the stretch.
Of all the players mentioned, he’d be one of the cheaper ones too with a cap hit right around $1 million. The Vikings could use some depth in the secondary, especially at that slot corner spot, so either King of the Texans or Hall could be great options.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing as well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.