The Vikings’ Top 5 Trade Candidates
GM Nolan Teasley has been taking his time. There have been some changes but much work remains.
Quite possibly, some of those changes are going to involve a swap or two. The Vikings’ top 5 trade candidates therefore get worked into the mix. Being a true trade candidate means needing two to tango (at least in this plausible fiction). So, the Vikings would need to be willing to move on via trade (eliminating Justin Jefferson, who isn’t for sale) and the player would then need to be good enough to attract attention (eliminating many fringe players). In no particular order, the trade candidates.
The Vikings’ Top 5 Trade Candidates
No. 1 — TE T.J. Hockenson
Put simply, Mr. Hockenson hasn’t yet been the same since that dirty hit took him out at the end of the 2023 season. Do the Vikings still have room for him?
He has never been an assassin when scoring touchdowns and nor has he been a tremendous blocker (though he has been improving). Worse yet, Hockenson hasn’t generated a pile of explosive gains for the Vikings. Does it actually make sense to continue employing an average blocker who catches the ball for modest gains and who doesn’t score often?
A team that sends a TE deeper down the field may get more out of the veteran.
No. 2 — LB Ivan Pace Jr.
Ivan Pace is a good player who has nevertheless been trending downward.
The Vikings don’t appear willing to move on if the only thing coming back is cap space. What would need to occur (presumably) is a draft pick. The 25-year-old linebacker could do reasonably well if he’s allowed to fly forward basically all the time. The Carolina Panthers have been a recent landing spot for former Vikings. Do they need a young ‘backer?
No. 3 — WR Tai Felton
Talent isn’t the issue for Tai Felton. What could still be missing is real opportunity.
At minicamp, Felton looked fast but he struggled to corral the football a time or two. He’s a terror as a gunner, proving to be elite in that facet of football. Felton then offers some value as a kickoff returner, as well. Still, it’s hard to ignore that the WR position is loaded and having a new GM means there’s less loyalty. A Day 3 pick would be the compensation.
No. 4 — OL Walter Rouse
The young offensive lineman does have promise. He has nevertheless had a tough time getting onto the field.
Standing in Walter Rouse’s way is the talent at offensive tackle in Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Ryan Van Demark, and Caleb Tiernan. So, too, can Blake Brandel play tackle. Rouse has been getting some opportunity to shuffle inward to guard, creating more opportunity. If things don’t look promising at guard, then maybe a trade is the way to go.
No. 5 — QB Kyler Murray
Stick with me for a moment.
If, in theory, J.J. McCarthy wins the top job, then there’s an issue to solve. Maybe Kyler Murray sticks around as a depth option, functioning as possibly the best QB2 in the NFL. Or maybe he gets sent somewhere to fortify the starting position.
At just $1.3 million on the cap, essentially every single team can afford the financial hit. The Vikings could explore the possibility if there’s a desire to enhance the draft pick tally ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft.
