ESPN Analyst Lists 2 Vikings as Potential Trade Pieces
Josh Frey
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With the Minnesota Vikings sitting at 1-4, there is a growing buzz that a teardown could happen this year.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has continuously stated that he wants to run a competitive rebuild, but at some point, he may need to choose one or the other.
It seems that Bill Barnwell of ESPN agrees that there are signs of a teardown in Minnesota. This week, the analyst put together a list of 15 potential trades at the NFL trade deadline, and he listed 2 Vikings in the piece.
ESPN Lists 2 Vikings as Potential Trade Pieces
OLB Danielle Hunter
The first trade candidate is one who has been discussed going back to training camp: OLB Danielle Hunter. The Vikings defender has been in trade rumors since this offseason, and those only amplified when he conducted a hold-in to begin training camp.
Hunter and the Vikings were able to agree to a new 1-year contract, though, and this season, he has fully lived up to the pay raise with a league-leading 9 tackles for loss as well as 6.0 sacks through the first five weeks of the season.
Barnwell suggested that, once again, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings could be trade partners at the deadline. Last year, Detroit sent TE T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota, and this year, perhaps they could take on Danielle Hunter to go all-in on a playoff run.
Here is what Barnwell had to say of the potential trade:
“The Lions should go for it, right? At 4-1, they’re well ahead of the NFC North and just a game back of the 49ers and Eagles at the top of the conference. Aidan Hutchinson is playing like a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but no other Lions defender has more than two sacks. Houston, who surprisingly had eight sacks as a rookie last season, is out indefinitely after fracturing his right ankle in Week 2. Veteran Romeo Okwara hasn’t been the same since tearing his Achilles several years ago. While Charles Harris is a solid player, Detroit could dream of adding a second star across from Hutchinson on the edge.”
The return for Minnesota in this trade scenario includes a 2024 second-round pick, a conditional 2025 third-round pick, and OLB James Houston, who Detroit selected in the sixth round of the 2022 Draft while the Vikings send Hunter and a 2024 fifth-round pick to Detroit.
LB Jordan Hicks
A more under-the-radar trade piece on Barnwell’s list is LB Jordan Hicks. It could make sense for the Vikings to try and move him, though, if they actually want to tear things down.
Hicks’ contract expires at the end of the year, and the Vikings have a number of young linebackers on the roster, such as Ivan Pace and Brian Asamoah, who could take on a larger role if Hicks were to be dealt.
On top of everything else, Hicks has played some of the best football of his career in 2023. Through five weeks, he’s put together 43 tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass defense, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
A potential suitor for Hicks, at least in Barnwell’s point of view, is the Buffalo Bills. This makes sense considering they just lost Matt Milano for the season last weekend. Here is what the analyst had to say:
“The 31-year-old Hicks has bounced around the league while starting for the Eagles, Cardinals, and Vikings, giving him experience in a range of systems. He’s no match for Milano in coverage, but he is a sure tackler and an efficient run defender, something the Bills will need in their matchups within the AFC East down the stretch. Hicks is owed about $2.5 million in prorated money over the remainder of the season, but he would be a logical fit for Buffalo, given the paucity of options available.”
Unfortunately, the Vikings probably won’t get a great return for their veteran off-ball linebacker, and Barnwell has them receiving a 2024 fifth-round pick in this trade scenario. Regardless, if the Vikings are actually going to tear things down in the coming weeks, Hicks’ name will likely be one that pops up again.
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.