The Vikings’ Trade Hub: The Rumors, Speculation, & Theories for the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline
A lot has been said about what the Vikings could do at the trade deadline. Before long, we’ll know what the Vikings did do at the trade deadline. The Vikings’ trade hub seeks to be a helpful resource until we get firm clarity on what’s to come.
The trade deadline is mere days away, arriving on October 31st. Or, better yet, the day affectionately known as Halloween. Presumably, a lot of Vikings fans enjoy the spooky holiday. After all, they’ve already signed up for a lifetime of being scared witless as the clock dwindles toward 0:00 as another one-score game keeps onlookers in a perpetual state of suspense, tension, and, at times, sheer terror.
For a long time, the discussion surrounding the Vikings and the trade deadline involved a hearty endorsement of selling and the merits that flow therefrom. Consecutive victories, though, have a way of changing the water on the purple beans. Many think that buying is the way to go. Still others think the team should consider doing both, sell older players while buying young players.
At PurplePTSD, many of these angles have been covered. Please consider this piece a humble attempt to capture some of the possibilities that exist at the trade deadline.
Before getting there, though, remember that PurplePTSD has already tracked every Kwesi Adofo-Mensah trade. Plus, there’s a different piece that keeps track of Minnesota’s upcoming picks in the drafts occurring from 2024 to 2026, giving insight about what will be available to the GM if he’s looking to pull something off.
Take a look at some of what’s been written.
The Vikings’ Trade Hub
1) The Vikings’ Trade Orbit: 10 Names to Remember as September 10th Inches Closer: A pair of players — Noah Igbinoghene and Isaiah Simmons — from the list did get traded. The issue is simply that they went to teams that weren’t Minnesota. And, for whatever it’s worth, a different player — Van Jefferson — got shipped out during the season. Some names that remain — like Chase Young — still make a lot of sense for the Vikings.
2) The Minnesota Vikings’ Top 7 Trade Candidates: These are the players to consider as likely trade candidates going into the Halloween deadline. Or, at least, the players whom teams will likely be interested in acquiring if Minnesota is interested in shipping someone out. Currently, Lewis Cine looks like the most likely trade piece.
3) 4 Vikings Who Could be Dealt at the Trade Deadline: Ezra Cleveland is an interesting name. If Minnesota doesn’t intend on bringing him back for 2024, would they look to a deal so they can recoup some value? Dalton Risner played wonderfully on MNF.
4) The Swearing Clarifies the Best Course of Action: The Vikings Need to be Calling the Commanders about a Trade: Very seldom do we see a star player lean on so much profanity to express so much exasperation. Washington has a pile of high-end talent on their defensive line; Minnesota could use some high-end talent along their defensive line. See the possibility?
5) The Undetected and Appealing Possibility for the Vikings at the NFL Trade Deadline: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah resists false dichotomies. Any chance he fully leans into that approach by opting to forego being either a buyer or seller by being both a buyer and seller? Stranger things have happened, folks.
6) The Trade Kirk Cousins Theories: 4 Writers, 3 Locations, & 1 Rumor That Won’t Go Away: Unless something totally unforeseen happens, Mr. Cousins will be sticking around Minnesota for the current season. That likelihood doesn’t mean teams won’t make a phone call, though.
7) The Worst Trade of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Career? That’s Still a Debate: Almost immediately after writing the piece, Andrew Booth Jr. started getting a chance with the starting defense. In a perfect world, the young corner continues his ascent. He’s still only 23.
8) Report Suggests Vikings Star is Not on the Trade Block: Safe money seems to be on Mr. Hunter sticking around. Players like him are supremely difficult to find. The Vikings will need to think long and hard about moving on from such a gifted player. The soft-spoken Jamaican is a team captain and hasn’t shown too many signs of slowing down, if any at all.
9) The Cam Akers Trade is a Win-win for the Vikings: An important reminder about the kind of players Adofo-Mensah likes to target. Young, on a cost-controlled deal, and very cheap to acquire. And, of course, fills a position of need. Anyone out there who could fit that criteria?
10) An Absolutely Bonkers Trade Offer for Kirk Cousins Never Materialized: How does a top-3 selection sound to you? Well, that was apparently the offer for Kirk Cousins at one point. If Washington pulled the trigger on that deal, the Vikings would be looking very different. More than a few Vikings fans have wondered if Shanahan’s 49ers will take another run at Cousins since Brock Purdy is dealing with a concussion.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.