REPORT: Vikings CBs Alexander, Sherels discussed in trades
As the Minnesota Vikings’ roster for the 2018 season quickly comes to fruition over the next couple of days, the narrowing down to 53 players may include trades.
And according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, two Vikings defensive backs in particular have been discussed as popular trade targets. Breer reports that cornerbacks Marcus Sherels and Mackensie Alexander are among the interesting names he’s heard discussed.
From his latest column:
I’ll have more on this later in the week, but for now, I can give you some guys teams are keeping an eye on as potential trade targets. And we’ll start by telling you that everyone is looking for offensive linemen. Three to watch, in that regard: Colts OT Austin Howard, Eagles G Chance Warmack and Bears C Hroniss Grasu.
Elsewhere, among the interesting names I’ve heard discussed: Steelers QB Josh Dobbs, Vikings CBs Marcus Sherels and Mackensie Alexander, Lions RB Ameer Abdullah, Packers WR Trevor Davis and CB Quinten Rollins, Raiders DL Mario Edwards, and Texans WR Braxton Miller. Those are among dozens, of course. And as I said, keep your eye out for something more in-depth before the final cuts.
It’s not totally shocking to see Vikings defensive backs tossed around the trade block. Very few teams, if any, can boast about cornerback depth quite like the Vikings can and several teams are in serious need of cornerbacks. Meanwhile, Minnesota has a pressing need at offensive line and could use one of its valuable cornerbacks for a swap.
I’m not sure I totally buy the Sherels trade rumor. It’s known around the league that he is almost strictly a special teams player and, while he’s dynamite on each special team, I find it hard to believe teams are willing to trade for a player who will contribute only on special teams.
Additionally, Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer has spoken highly of Sherels and it would be off brand for the Vikings to trade away a player as reliable as Sherels is.
The Alexander trade rumor makes a lot more sense. Mike Hughes has exceeded expectations so far in camp both on the outside and in the nickel role, which is Alexander’s presumed role once the regular season begins. Though Mike Zimmer likes his cornerback depth, it would behoove the Vikings to at least see what they can get for an up-and-coming cornerback like Alexander who has the talent to start for nearly every other team in the league.
Will one of Sherels or Alexander be traded? Probably not. This is likely a simple case of the front office doing its job to see how the roster can be improved, and exchanging a player at a surplus position for another asset at a position of need is intriguing for a contender like the Vikings. It’d be silly for general manager Rick Spielman to not pick up the phone.
The most likely scenario is that the Vikings swoop in and snatch an offensive lineman cut by another team to help round out their offensive line group while keeping both Sherels and Alexander on the 53-man roster.