Questions Answered: Trade Preference, Vikings Free Agent Signing, Over or Under

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks (16) takes the field to face the Cincinnati Bengals at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Nfl Cincinnati Bengals At Tennessee Titans. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK.

The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the July 17th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].

Questions Answered: Trade Preference, Vikings Free Agent Signing, Over or Under

Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.

Trade
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Q: Of all the Vikings’ realistic trade scenarios — like Adam Thielen or Marshon Lattimore — which do you prefer the most?

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks (16) is introduced before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Answer: A later-rounder for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks.

This idea started at Bleacher Report in May, with Minnesota possibly sending a 7th-Rounder to Tennessee for Burks’ services. In short — yes, please.

The Titans have about four other dudes ahead of Burks on the current depth chart, including DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Burks is buried. Some Titans pundits claim he’ll play special teams in 2024.

For a 6th- or 7th-Rounder, Minnesota should barter with Titans general manager Ran Carthon, a former coworker of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in San Francisco. Burks could then probably slide into Minnesota’s WR3 role.

Q: Who’s one free agent you predict the Vikings’ll end up signing?

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Robert Woods (2) celebrates his touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Answer: Robert Woods or Stephon Gilmore.

Brian Flores’ defense might need cornerback depth after Khyree Jackson’s tragic passing, and Robert Woods could become available on the free-agent market right after summer roster trimdowns.

Gilmore has ties to Brian Flores from the New England Patriots days, and O’Connell has a connection to Woods from Los Angeles.

Either one makes a lot of sense. Give us Gilmore foremost and Woods if the Texans release him in August.

Q: Would you bet the over or under for the Vikings’ proposed 6.5 wins?

2022 Vikings Basic Betting Odds Tracker: Week 15
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports,

A: We believe the Vikings will finish 7-10 in 2024 — so the over is our choice.

Minnesota finished 7-10 last year with an honest-to-goodness quarterback carousel and was only 4-4 when Kirk Cousins fell injured. If they could fire up a 7-10 record with quarterback instability in 2023, they can do it again in 2024.

For Minnesota to produce a record better than 7-10 or 8-9, Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy must be the real deal(s), and no one is too sure about either guy, at least not in July.

We say 7-10. Narrowly covering the over.


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 MIN 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.