Buying at Trade Deadline: The Vikings Limited History
Dustin Baker
|
Expecting the Minnesota Vikings to make a rim-rattling trade before the November 2nd trade deadline? Don’t hold your breath.
The reason is simple – the Vikings rarely act as buyers at the NFL’s trade deadline, especially with general manager Rick Spielman in charge. Spielman is a trading fiend – he’s affectionately nicknamed Trader Rick – but that moniker is derived from the draft cycle.
Last weekend, Minnesota traded Stephen Weatherly and a 2023 7th-Round draft pick to the Denver Broncos for a 2022 7th-Round selection. One year ago, Spielman sent EDGE rusher Yannick Ngakoue to the Baltimore Ravens for a 3rd-Rounder. So, he’s not immune to trading in October – he just seldom “buys” veteran players with the deadline approaching.
In all likelihood, based on Spielman’s tendencies in nine years solely controlling the front office, the trade of Weatherly to the Broncos was probably “it” for the Vikings trades this season. Put simply, they don’t trade much in October or November. In theory, Spielman could start now, but it would be a departure from normative behavior.
The closest example to a “buying” time for Spielman was 2015 when Minnesota traded Gerald Hodges to the San Francisco 49ers for Nick Easton and a 6th-Rounder. And that doesn’t necessarily qualify as a big deal, not by a longshot. What’s more, that move occurred in early October – like three weeks ago right now on a transplanted-to-2021 calendar.
Spielman either trades for dudes like Sam Bradford, Kaare Vedvick, Yannick Ngakoue, or Chris Herndon when the season is just getting started – or he saves his barter bonanza for the draft cycle. Period.
Indeed, the Vikings famously traded for Randy Moss in 20210 – a transaction that will live in Vikings lore eternally – but that’s one example in the last 15 years of buying at the trade deadline.
The Vikings could use another cornerback in the wake of Patrick Peterson’s hamstring injury. That is undeniable. Yet, it is more likely that Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer lean on existing players like Cameron Dantzler and Harrison Hand for production than trading more draft assets for someone like Xavien Howard from the Miami Dolphins. Anything is possible, but a buyer move by Spielman would be out of character.
And do Vikings fans really want him trading before the deadline? He’s a wizard on draft night, stockpiling assets like a madman. However, outside of that parameter, his transactions are typically lightning rods for scrutiny. “Panic trading” are words associated with Spielman’s non-draft negotiation tactics.
Spielman likes to sell at the deadline, evidenced in Weatherly last Saturday and Ngakoue last year. The Vikings bossman is pretty meticulous about constructing a roster through the draft and the summer – not during the regular season. And when he deviates, Minnesota is stuck with stuff like the Herndon deal, which was panned by Vikings loyalists.
The trade deadline will likely come and go with the Vikings staying put. History is a reasonable indicator of future happenings.
If he does make a surprise move in acquiring a veteran defensive back, expect the Vikings 2022 draft class to look pretty skimpy.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
You must be logged in to post a comment.