The Top 3 Trade Needs for Vikings

Vikings to Hit Free Agent Market for Answers
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

The Minnesota Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin on Sunday, and two days after that must decide if they’re buyers, sellers, or nothing at all by the league’s trade deadline on Halloween.

The Top 3 Trade Needs for Vikings

Minnesota has a 3-4 record heading into Week 8, winning last Monday night versus the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium and keeping its season afloat.

The Top 3 Trade Needs for Vikings
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Before that game, most onlookers believed the Vikings would sell assets and prepare for the 2024 season, but it appears that theory was created prematurely. Should Minnesota even its record to 4-4, it will probably add talent Tuesday, not subtract.

And if the Vikings acquire some players, these are the top three positions of need ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top trade need).

3. Cornerback

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These are the Vikings cornerbacks at the moment:

  • CB1: Byron Murphy
  • CB2: Akayleb Evans
  • CB3: Andrew Booth
  • CB4: Mekhi Blackmon
  • CB5: NaJee Thompson

And it’s worth noting that safety Josh Metellus often owns slot cornerback responsibilities.

The Vikings defense has matured and improved wonderfully in the last month, and the CBs have followed suit. However, they’re an injury away from skimpiness on the depth chart, so a trade for a corner cannot be ruled out.

Jaylon Johnson (Chicago Bears) and Kaiir Elam (Buffalo Bills), for example, are reportedly on the trade block.

2. Defensive Tackle

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Dean Lowry and Jonathan Bullard have each played about 50% of defensive snaps so far this season, and Bullard especially has performed well in recent weeks. If the Vikings make no moves at defensive tackle, the group should be fine. Khyiris Tonga is also starting to get some action, too.

But if the club wants to improve and splash into the trade market, some bonafide stars like Leonard Williams (New York Giants), Jonathan Allen (Washington Commanders), and Jeffery Simmons (Tennessee Titans) could be gettable on the trade market.

Those men will cost supreme draft capital in return, but if there’s one thing the Vikings have lacked in the last decade, it’s a showstopper defensive tackle like Linval Joseph during the Mike Zimmer days or Harrison Phillips now.

Conveniently, high-profile DTs are available during the lead-up to this trade deadline.

1. Outside Linebacker

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Marcus Davenport will miss at least three more games — probably more — with a high ankle sprain, and if something happened to Danielle Hunter, fans would panic, particularly if the franchise continues this little winning streak.

Thankfully against the San Francisco 49ers last Monday, D.J. Wonnum filled in admirably for Davenport, and he may continue to do precisely that. Yet, if injuries arise, the depth becomes suspect.

EDGE rushers like Chase Young (Washington Commanders), Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers), and Josh Uche (New England Patriots) are allegedly available, and folks shouldn’t be surprised one iota if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swings a trade for an outside linebacker or defensive end in the next two days.


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,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.