Bleacher Report Singles Out One Loser for Vikings at Trade Deadline
For the first time in four seasons, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah conducted no trades during a regular season, standing pat on Tuesday’s deadline. And according to Bleacher Report, one man “lost” because of the inactivity: defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
The Minnesota Vikings made no moves at Tuesday’s trade deadline — zero — and according to Bleacher Report, one man is a “loser” because of it.
Flores received no new toys this week, and that’s evidently concerning.
Brian Flores Named “Loser” of Vikings Trade Deadline
Minnesota fired up a quiet trade deadline for once.
Bleacher Report on Flores as a Trade Deadline “Loser”
BR’s staff named a “loser” from each NFL team at the deadline, and for Minnesota, Flores got the nod.
“The Vikings were in the market for a cornerback well ahead of the deadline, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. It turns out that a truly elite option was available. The Jets decided to deal standout corner Sauce Gardner, and the Colts swooped in to snag him for a pair of first-round picks,” BR explained.
“To be fair, that’s a hefty price for a defensive back who hasn’t played up to his usual standard this season. However, defensive coordinator Brian Flores would have loved having a player like Gardner to help boost Minnesota’s 20th-ranked scoring defense.”
Flores will just have to make do with what he has.
The Return-from-Injury Angle
The Vikings’ leaders explained their non-participation in trading at the deadline, citing that players are finally returning to the lineup.
That is — a bevy of injuries to Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Andrew Van Ginkel, Aaron Jones, Ryan Kelly, J.J. McCarthy, and others rattled the enterprise through two months of the regular season. Now, for the most part, those men have returned to the lineup or appear to be on their way back.
The jolt that trades would have provided to Minnesota will evidently come from in-house solutions. Healed injured players. That’s the company line.
An Extra CB?
Most fans examined the depth chart and decided that if Minnesota made any deals at all, a cornerback would be on the way. Players like Tariq Woolen, Joshua Williams, Alontae Taylor, and Denzel Ward could, in theory, have been on the block, but those players’ teams did not pull the trigger.
Instead, Minnesota is left with Jeff Okudah, Dwight McGlothern, and practice squader Fabian Moreau as depth behind the two starting CBs, Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers.
Cornerback is the one spot that is a single injury away from outright panic.
How about Free Agency Now?
Meanwhile, teams can sign free agents at any time. There’s no deadline for that process.
If one assumes that the Vikings may still want a depth cornerback, these players might turn heads on the open market:
- Asante Samuel Jr.
- Beanie Bishop
- Stephon Gilmore
- Shaquill Griffin (SEA Practice Squad)
- Cameron Sutton
Minnesota has about $16-$17 million in cap space to spend on 2025 free agents.
BR Identifies the Vikings’ Winner, Too
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the purple team at the deadline, according to Bleacher Report.
BR called quarterback J.J. McCarthy a “winner” and opined, “The Minnesota Vikings will be J.J. McCarthy’s team for the rest of the season, as long as he stays healthy. The 2024 first-round pick started the first two games before suffering an ankle injury. Carson Wentz started the next five games and played reasonably well before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.”
“McCarthy is now healthy, back in the lineup and won’t spend the rest of the season looking over his shoulder. Minnesota could have made a move to add veteran depth at the deadline. With only McCarthy and rookie Max Brosmer on the depth chart, it still might add a quarterback. However, the Vikings didn’t trade for anyone who might be a viable threat to McCarthy’s job.”
On the other side of Interstate 94, BR called Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love a “loser” and noted, “While Kraft’s injury opens the door for Musgrave, it also takes away Jordan Love’s most trusted target. Kraft had racked up 489 yards and six touchdowns on 32 receptions while providing a 148.6 passer rating when targeted.”
“Browns tight end David Njoku, who will be a free agent in the spring, seemed a logical replacement for Kraft, given his athleticism and after-the-catch ability. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Browns were never inclined to move him. Maybe Musgrave will thrive in his new opportunity; if not, Love will wish Green Bay had gotten him help at the deadline.”
The Vikings host the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium and are expected to lose by four or five points.
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