Bleacher Report’s ‘Dream Trade’ for Vikings Is Kind of Funny
Dustin Baker
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One might think if the Minnesota Vikings were on deck for any trade under the sun, with unlimited creativity available, the scriptwriter would fling a bunch of draft picks at a team such as the Houston Texans and draft a rookie quarterback like C.J. Stroud.
But nope.
Bleacher Report‘s version of a Vikings ‘dream trade’ involved two thirtysomethings associated with the team for years.
Bleacher Report’s ‘Dream Trade’ for Vikings Is Kind of Funny
BR‘s Kristopher Knox authored an article this week detailing a dream trade for every NFL team, and unsurprisingly, several franchises shot for the starts. But not the Vikings.
His big trade moment for the Vikings was trading Eric Kendricks and Harrison Smith for a couple of low-round draft picks. He explained, “The Vikings would most likely get more in return for Kendricks in a trade than by releasing and hoping for a compensatory pick. He’s still a very productive linebacker, one who finished the 2022 season with 137 tackles and a sack. Minnesota might be able to net a fourth- or fifth-round pick from a linebacker-needy team in a trade.”
“The Vikings could clear another $7.4 million and perhaps land a late-round selection by dealing 34-year-old safety Harrison Smith. That extra bit of draft capital could help the Vikings move up from 24th overall and land a top-tier defensive prospect,” Knox added,
While it’s possible that Kendricks may depart the Vikings via outright release or trade, Smith is highly unlikely to leave. The Vikings hired Brian Flores a few weeks ago, and Smith is akin to a dream defender within his system.
A team isn’t going to trade a 4th-Rounder for Kendricks, who will be 31 next week. Minnesota would be lucky to get a 5th- or 6th-Rounder. And because the Vikings can save nearly $10 million in cap space by cutting Kendricks, teams probably know that and will merely wait for the man to get released, if at all.
Knox foresaw other teams dreaming big, like the Carolina Panthers, who should apparently trade for Lamar Jackson. He envisioned the Chicago Bears trading down twice from their No. 1 overall spot to totally maximize draft capital. The Indianapolis Colts landed Bryce Young after a trade with Chicago. He spitballed Darren Waller to Miami Dolphins, DeAndre Hopkins to the New England Patriots, and Minnesota’s rival Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.
Meanwhile, the Vikings huge splash would be dealing two beloved veterans to other teams for maybe a 5th- and 6th-Rounder. That’s a little weak — especially when the canvas was utterly blank for anything.
The trade portion of the NFL’s offseason should heat up during the first week of March.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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