7 Players the Vikings Should Target via Trade
Minnesota Vikings training camp kicks off in about three weeks, and the regular season is 71 days, a road game at the New York Giants.
7 Players the Vikings Should Target via Trade
The club doesn’t have much draft capital to swing trades, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. Minnesota has a few roster deficiencies, at least on paper, and a trade or two could help solve those problems.
So, these are seven summer trade targets for the Vikings, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top trade target).
**Note: The Vikings won’t trade for all these men — these are merely standalone ideas.
7. Dyami Brown
(WR) | Commanders
Brown might be on the Washington Commanders’ roster bubble this summer after Luke McCaffrey joined the team in the draft. He’s never received more than 25 targets in the passing game during a single season in Washington, a low number for a former 3rd-Round pick.
Like many players on this list, he can be obtained for a late-round draft pick.
6. Maurice Hurst
(DT) | Browns
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 — general manager Adofo-Mensah has ties to Cleveland’s front office.
5. Shelby Harris
(DT) | Browns
Take the DT methodology for Hurst — too many cooks in the kitchen at DT for Cleveland — and apply it to Harris. The only knock on Harris (versus Hurst) is that he’ll turn 33 this summer. He is not a long-long-term solution.
But he’d for sure upgrade the DT spot on the Vikings’ defensive line, if only for a year or two.
4. Adam Thielen
(WR) | Panthers
These wide receivers, among others, live on the Panthers’ depth chart next to Adam Thielen:
- Diontae Johnson
- Xavier Lagette
- Terrace Marshall Jr.
- Jonathan Mingo
- Ihmir Smith-Marsette
The top two weren’t employed by Carolina last year, and they’re certain to reduce Thielen’s workload. If Thielen becomes expendable, well, the Vikings need a WR3.
Thielen also worked out with J.J. McCarthy this week, which piqued fans’ interest.
3. Treylon Burks
(WR) | Titans
Burks joined the Titans in 2022 via the 18th overall pick in 2022. He hasn’t made an impact, and now DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd are ahead of him on the depth chart.
In 2024, Burks might merely be a special teams contributor for the Titans. He could audition for WR3 in Minnesota and can probably be obtained for a throwaway 7th-Round pick.
2. Deommodore Lenoir
(CB) | 49ers
Lenoir enters the final year of his contract, and the 49ers may not have the funds to pay him next March. Therefore, because Charvarius Ward and Isaac Yiadom are on the roster, San Francisco could dangle Lenoir to the highest bidder.
He produced a 75.8 Pro Football Focus grade in 2023, is only 24 years old, and featured a 75.2 passer-rating-against last year. For a mid-round pick in 2026, Lenoir to the Vikings could make a lot of sense.
The man also works for the 49ers, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s former employer. The line of communication with San Francisco’s front office should be wide open.
1. Jonathan Allen
(DT) | Commanders
Adding Allen would undoubtedly 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 two months ago. Newton will not need too much time before seeing starter’s snaps.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.