An Intriguing Trade Target at a Vikings Position of Need Just Opened Up
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings will need to completely revamp their pass rushing group in 2024.
All three of Marcus Davenport, Danielle Hunter, and D.J. Wonnum are set to hit free agency in March, thus leaving the Vikings with only Patrick Jones and Andre Carter on their current roster at the outside linebacker position.
A New Intriguing Trade Target for the Vikings
One way to build up that group could be via a trade to acquire a seasoned veteran, and one intriguing trade target opened up just hours before kickoff of the Super Bowl. That veteran is Haason Reddick, who was granted permission to seek a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday morning.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted the report, “Sources: #Eagles All-Pro edge rusher Haason Reddick has received permission to seek a trade following another disruptive season featuring double digit sacks. The 29-year old with 27 sacks over two seasons in Philly could land elsewhere.”
Reddick has spent the past two seasons with the Eagles, earning his first Pro Bowl honors in each of them and helping them reach the Super Bowl during the 2022 season.
The 29-year-old defender has spent seven seasons in the NFL after being selected with the 13th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals back in 2017. After largely being a rotational player through his first three seasons (starting only 20 total games and recording 7.5 sacks), Reddick burst onto the scene in 2020 with 15 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
Reddick then signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers during 2021 and found similar success, piling up 68 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and two more forced fumbles. Then, he landed in Philadelphia following the expiration of his contract, inking a new three-year deal worth $45 million, including $30 million in guarantees.
Of course, this means the pass rusher will come with a hefty price tag attached to him. Currently, Reddick is set to have a $21.377 million cap hit for next season, which would seriously eat into Minnesota’s space. The Vikings currently sit about $24.658 million under the salary cap, according to Over the Cap.
Still, the Vikings have multiple ways to increase their cap space for this offseason, and especially if they are to re-sign Danielle Hunter, he and Reddick could create a very fearsome duo off the edge in Minnesota this season.
Seeing as Reddick is set to be a free agent next offseason, Minnesota wouldn’t have to risk throwing too much money into the future, either. Players who can routinely put up double-digit sack seasons don’t exactly grow on trees in the NFL, so the Vikings would be smart to pursue this option.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, Spotrac, and Over the Cap helped with this article.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.
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