Jan 5, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) defends Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) during the second quarter of a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick Hingle-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings start training camp on Sunday, with rookies reporting for duty. Veterans follow two days later.
The club is expected to win about seven games in 2024 and finish in last place inside the NFC North.
And while training camp will heat up soon, a few players have been linked to Minnesota via trade this summer, at least per speculative ideas from pundits and fans. These are those three men listed alphabetically.
Where the Trade Rumors Began: Bleacher Report
Supposed Price for a Trade: a 6th- or 7th-Round Pick
The Titans augmented their WR corps this offseason, adding Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd from free agency while retaining DeAndre Hopkins in 2024. In theory, Burks could be the odd man out or fail to earn ample attention in the team’s passing game.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have no clear-cut WR3 right now, scheduled to host a camp battle at the position between Brandon Powell, Jalen Nailor, and Trent Sherfield this month and next.
Bleacher Report‘s Alex Kay explained Burks to Minnesota theory in May, “Treylon Burks could be the high-upside talent the Vikings need to reinforce their receiving corps at low cost. Burks could be available, especially after the Tennessee Titans — the club that selected Boyd on Day 1 of the 2022 draft — brought in Tyler Boyd to fill their slot receiver role. With a logjam of receiving talent now in the Music City, Burks looks to be the odd man out following a slow start to his NFL career.”
Burks was highly-regarded entering the NFL two years ago, a 1st-Rounder in 2022 obtained by Tennessee with the 18th overall pick. However, due to injury and poor quarterback play, Burks has not busted out into stardom, producing the 665 yards in two seasons mentioned by Kay.
“Although Burks hasn’t produced much in his two seasons (he’s only reeled in 49 receptions for 665 yards and one score across 22 games) he has dealt with injuries, poor quarterback play and a run-heavy system that have all hindered his development. He still has a high ceiling due to his size, strength, athleticism and versatility — traits that could allow him to shine while manning the slot in the Twin Cities,” Kay concluded.
Vikings fans would welcome Burks with open arms as a combatant for the 2024 WR3 title.
Where the Trade Rumors Began: Bleacher Report
Supposed Price for a Trade: a 3rd-Round and 5th-Round Pick
Lattimore has spent seven seasons in New Orleans, most of them productive, and with the Saints routinely mired in salary cap agony, offloading Lattimore might check some boxes for long-term budget planning.
“If the long-time Saint in Lattimore is made available, expect brass in Minnesota to kick the tires. Adding impact talent on defense has been a goal of Minnesota over the last few drafts,” BR’s Ryan Fowler wrote earlier this month. “The team spent high capital to add corner Andrew Booth Jr (second round) and safety Lewis Cine (first round) in the 2022 draft, but neither player has remotely lived up to expectation in their first few campaigns.”
If this trade came to fruition, Minnesota would immediately showcase Byron Murphy and Lattimore as its outside cornerbacks this season. Otherwise, Murphy could pair with newcomer free agent Shaquill Griffin.
Fowler continued, “Minnesota has $26.3 million in 2024 cap space remaining and possesses $54.5 million in projected 2025 cap room. Meaning, the team has more than enough room to fit Lattimore’s contract while maintaining assets to allocate elsewhere.”
On the whole, it is unclear if New Orleans plans to send Lattimore packing.
Where the Trade Rumors Began: Vikings Fans
Supposed Price for a Trade: a Late-Round Pick
In the last month or so, Thielen talked and walked like a Viking. He worked out with J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota and sang the youngster’s praises on KFAN.
And during the last four months, Carolina added two players who will severely diminish Thielen’s workload: Diontae Johnson and rookie Xavier Lagette. Accordingly, because the Vikings don’t have a pronounced WR3 on the roster, fans have theorized a Thielen reunion.
It’s also worth noting that Jordan Addison, Minnesota’s WR2, could be facing a suspension to start the season after an arrest in California last week, so general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, indeed, could explore the external market for another receiver.
Thielen’s return to Minnesota via trade is unlikely, all things considered, but if the man were traded anywhere this summer, it would probably be to his former team.
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.