4 Vikings Who Could Be Dealt at the Trade Deadline
The Minnesota Vikings have not enjoyed the same success that they had in 2022 to begin the 2023 season. They sit at 1-4 and tied for the bottom of the NFC North.
If they lose to the Chicago Bears in Week 6, that will place Minnesota firmly at the bottom of the division by themselves for the first time since their 0-3 start in 2020.
With the trade deadline approaching in just a couple weeks, more losses could indicate that it is time for the Vikings to start selling some of their veteran players and begin rebuilding for the future. Here is a look at 4 Vikings players who coule be dealt by the time the deadline rolls around.
OLB Danielle Hunter
Danielle Hunter may be the most obvious trade candidate at this point. The soon-to-be 29-year-old pass rusher has had an incredible start to the year after signing a new one-year deal to remain in Minnesota following his hold-in during training camp.
Through five games, Hunter has a league-leading 9 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks to his name. He will carry a big price tag with him next offseason, so the Vikings very well could lose him for nothing next spring if they do not trade him.
LG Ezra Cleveland
This is a tricky one. Ezra Cleveland’s contract is coming to an end after this season, and he is playing some of the best football of his young NFL career, particularly in pass protection. However, the Vikings signed Dalton Risner a few weeks ago, and he is yet to take a snap with the offense despite being guaranteed $2.5 million this year.
If the Vikings were to trade Cleveland, this opens the door for Risner to make a seamless transition into the offensive line at his usual left guard spot. Meanwhile, Minnesota could grab some extra draft capital and sell high on their 2020 second-round pick.
WR K.J. Osborn
Things could change in terms of a K.J. Osborn trade now that Justin Jefferson is out for four weeks with his hamstring injury. Minnesota still needs somebody to catch passes, and that may result in the wide receiver sticking around through the end of his contract.
However, if he improves his production over the next couple weeks, again, it could give the Vikings an opportunity to sell-high on an expiring contract. Through five weeks, Osborn has caught 13 passes for 166 yards and 2 TDs.
QB Kirk Cousins
And finally, we get to Kirk Cousins, who is also set to hit free agency in the spring. Cousins has been adament about his desire to retire as a Viking, but if Minnesota continues its losing ways, a new beginning with a potential playoff team could become more appealing.
The Vikings have Jaren Hall in place as a young QB that they would like to develop, and the closing stretch of this season would be a great opportunity to do so if Cousins agrees to move to a different team such as the Atlanta Falcons.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.