10 Trades the Vikings Could Make This Summer
Minnesota Vikings mandatory minicamp kicks off on Tuesday, training camp about seven weeks after that, and August is all about the preseason and roster cutdowns.
10 Trades the Vikings Could Make This Summer
The club doesn’t have too much draft capital to swing high-profile trades, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. Minnesota has some roster deficiencies at defensive tackle and WR3, so it wouldn’t be weird one bit if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah bartered around the league.
So, these are 10 summer trade ideas for the Vikings, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top trade idea).
Trade Target No. 10:
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR)
Age: 23
Current Team: Carolina Panthers
2023 PFF Grade: 54.8
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: 2026 7th-Rounder
Marshall Jr., a 2nd-Rounder from the 2021 NFL Draft, has Diontae Johnson, Xavier Lagette, Adam Thielen, and Jonathan Mingo ahead of him on the depth chart. If he makes Carolina’s 53-man roster, he’s the WR5. Minnesota could use him as WR3.
Trade Target No. 9:
Isaiah Hodgins (WR)
Age: 25
Current Team: New York Giants
2023 PFF Grade: 56.4
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: 2026 7th-Rounder
Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Allen Robinson, Jaylin Hyatt, and Isaiah McKenize live on the Giants’ roster ahead of Hodgins. The 25-year-old is glancing at WR6 or WR7 duties, which may not even be a thing when New York trims its roster to 53. Adofo-Mensah could also save his draft picks and sign one of the Giants’ released receivers later this summer. They have several players with similar skillsets.
Trade Target No. 8:
7th Round Pick from Chargers
Age: n/a
Current Team: n/a
2023 PFF Grade: n/a
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: Nick Mullens
Mullens joined the Vikings via trade for a late-round draft pick in 2022, and if Minnesota wants to retain Jaren Hall, Mullens could be the odd man out. Send him to Los Angeles to back up Justin Herbert, an immediate upgrade over Easton Stick.
Trade Target No. 7:
Davon Godchaux (NT)
Age: 29
Current Team: New England Patriots
2023 PFF Grade: 50.2
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: 2026 6th-Rounder
Minnesota has no true nose tackle on its defensive roster, and while Godchaux isn’t a Pro Bowler, he’s huge and has ties to Brian Flores from the Miami Dolphins days. The Patriots can play former Viking Armon Watts or Daniel Ekuale at this position.
Trade Target No. 6:
Roy Robertson-Harris (DT)
Age: 30
Current Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
2023 PFF Grade: 62.3
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: 2026 6th-Rounder
The Jaguars drafted rookie DTs Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson in Rounds 2 and 4, respectively, in April. Robertson-Harris could be the eventual odd man out. Minnesota could use a dependable three-technique defensive lineman.
Trade Target No. 5:
Courtland Sutton (WR)
Age: 28
Current Team: Denver Broncos
2023 PFF Grade: 75.6
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: 2025 5th-Rounder
Trade rumors have surrounded Sutton since Sean Payton arrived in Denver, as Payton has formulated the roster with “his guys.” Sutton would solidify Minnesota’s WR3 — and then some — for 2024 and beyond.
Trade Target No. 4:
Tutu Atwell (WR)
Age: 24
Current Team: Los Angeles Rams
2023 PFF Grade: 67.1
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: 2026 Conditional 6th-Rounder
Head coach Kevin O’Connell and Atwell crossed paths in 2021 with the Rams, the season Los Angeles won the Super Bowl. And in 2023, Atwell performed wonderfully out of the gate before Cooper Kupp returned. Fantasy football managers scooped him off the wire.
With any luck, he could contend for Minnesota’s WR3 gig.
Trade Target No. 3:
Maurice Hurst (DT)
Age: 29
Current Team: Cleveland Browns
2023 PFF Grade: 81.0
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: 2026 6th-Rounder
Cleveland used Round 2 of the draft to select DT Michael Hall of Ohio State, a rookie who might already be ahead of Hurst on the depth chart. Of course, the Browns just re-signed Hurst in March, making a trade somewhat unlikely, but that move occurred before the Hall selection.
Always remember — Adofo-Mensah has ties to Cleveland’s front office.
Trade Target No. 2:
Jonathan Allen (DT)
Age: 29
Current Team: Washington Commanders
2023 PFF Grade: 59.7
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: 2026 4th-Rounder & 2025 5th-Rounder
The most expensive trade on the list, adding Allen would undeniably put a punctuation mark on the offseason. He produced a quieter year than normal last season but could bounce back in 2024. The two-time Pro Bowler has no more guaranteed money on his current contract, and Washington could deal him this summer for a fresh start.
Meanwhile, the Commanders drafted Jer’Zhan Newton at Allen’s spot five weeks ago. Newton should be relatively game-ready.
Trade Target No. 1:
Treylon Burks (WR)
Age: 24
Current Team: Tennesee Titans
2023 PFF Grade: 52.4
The Possible Trade Price for MIN: Lewis Cine
Both Burks and Cine are stuck on depth charts with too many players in front of them. Each will presumably live on the summer roster bubble. Each can find new life on the other’s team.
Most NFL trades involve draft picks. This one doesn’t need any. Burks joined the Titans in 2022 via the 18th overall pick in 2022. Cine followed 14 picks later at No. 32 to Minnesota. Of course, it’s not a lock for either to blossom on a new team, but Cine and Burks could receive honest-to-goodness auditions on the other guy’s squad.
Think of it this way: the Titans need safety depth, and the Vikings need a WR3. This is the way.
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.
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