Vikings’ All-In Trade Gets Some National Buzz
The Minnesota Vikings have firmly established themselves as a decent football team in the eyes of many, with the lone mystery that’s holding back more aggressive predictions being J.J. McCarthy. At some point, however, a roster is so good that not even an underwhelming quarterback can slow it down.
Vikings’ All-In Trade Gets Some National Buzz
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has fixed the primary roster flaws in free agency and the draft, turning the trenches from a weakness to a strength. One area of uncertainty is the secondary, especially the cornerback crew.
As it stands now, it will be Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, and Jeff Okudah trying to slow down opposing wideouts. Many analysts, but also fans, suggest that another corner should be acquired. The biggest name on the market is Dolphins defender Jalen Ramsey.
The player and his franchise have agreed that a trade would be in the best interest of both parties, and he is up for grabs. So far, only Vikings-themed websites and fans on social media have linked the Vikings to the seven-time Pro Bowler, but that changed on Tuesday when ex-NFLer Jason McCourty joined Kay Adams on The Up and Adams Show.
He said about Ramsey to Minnesota: “I think the one team, that I’ve seen some people mention is the Minnesota Vikings. What Brian Flores does with his defensive backs, Byron Murphy, a guy that plays outside, he plays inside, the way the safeties all move around. Jalen Ramsey is so talented and can play so many different positions — slot, safety, corner.”
Indeed, if you want to link a defender to Flores’ defense, choosing someone who can do many things is a good way to start. McCourty knows Flores from his three-year stint with the Patriots. They won the Super Bowl in 2018.
McCourty added: “I think that would be a ton of fun, if you could see Brian Flores using him as a chess piece, and moving him all around, get him blitzing and doing different things, to show all the talents that he has.”
Ramsey brings prototypical cornerback size at 6’1″ and 208 lbs. He’s a physical player who can overpower receivers, and he has tried that bully-ball mentality against Justin Jefferson in the past. That size would allow him to line up wherever Flores needs him, although he’s obviously at his best as an outside cornerback.
Vikings Territory’s Dustin Baker wrote about the Ramsey/Vikings sweepstakes this week: “Minnesota could use Ramsey for a couple of main reasons. Foremost, the team employs Byron Murphy Jr., a 2024 Pro Bowler, at cornerback, which is terrific. But after Murphy Jr. on the roster, Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern are the other starting options, and nobody knows if that group is enough CB talent for a Super Bowl-contending team.”
Ramsey, a 2016 first-rounder of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has spent time with the Jaguars, Rams, and Dolphins. He has played in 135 career games (134 starts) and secured 24 interceptions as well as 534 tackles and three sacks.
The potential Hall of Famer is a three-time first-team All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler. His resume also includes a Super Bowl championship he won with the Rams. Kevin O’Connell was also on that team as the offensive coordinator.
He’ll turn 31 during the upcoming season and is signed through the 2028 campaign on a pretty costly deal. The good news is that he still played at a high level last year, and due to the salary, the trade wouldn’t cost much.
The Vikings had a fantastic defense a year ago, and surely upgraded the defensive line by adding Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. If the cornerback group got a similar boost, the defense might be the best in the business.
Ramsey’s future will likely be decided after June 1st since that’s when the Dolphins can swallow the dead money more easily.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.