NFL.com Reveals Vikings Biggest Trade Need
The Minnesota Vikings usually fire off at least one trade before the NFL’s deadline, which is less than five weeks away, and NFL.com believes that should be for an offensive lineman.
The NFL’s trade deadline is less than five weeks away, and for the Minnesota Vikings, NFL.com has an idea for one spot, above all else.
Injuries have not been kind to Kevin O’Connell’s team through four weeks. Adding an extra trenchman is evidently the ticket, according to the court of public opinion.
Trade Need for Vikings? The Offensive Line.
Minnesota has about a month to decide on its trade preferences.
Vikings Need OL Help from Trade Market, Says NFL.com
Kevin Patra at NFL.com sized up each NFL team’s top position of need with the trade deadline looming, and for Minnesota, the offensive line got the nomination.
He wrote, “Biggest Need: Offensive-line depth. A week ago, I might have said corner was the Vikings’ biggest need, but a rash of injuries put a hole in their best-laid plans to solidify the O-line this offseason.”
“Brian O’Neill’s MCL sprain is a killer, as they experienced on Sunday versus Pittsburgh, when Carson Wentz was sacked six times, while Ryan Kelly and Donovan Jackson are also banged up. If Minnesota doesn’t secure better protection, it won’t matter who is under center.”
Based on the Vikings’ notable bout with OL injuries through four games, the man probably isn’t wrong.
Injury Depletion
Why do the Vikings’ need offensive line help? That answer is straightforward. After Christian Darrisaw healed from a torn ACL, everyone else started to drop.
Brian O’Neill sprained his MCL. Ryan Kelly suffered two concussions in three games. Donovan Jackson had surgery on his wrist and is out until after the bye week. Backup center Michael Jurgens is on this week’s injury report.
Minnesota has offensive line depth, but even that has been tested by an excessive number of injuries.
Accordingly, pundits like Patra believe the purple team needs more OL juice from the trade market.
Trade Candidates
There is a problem with Patra’s theory: the offensive line trade market mostly stinks. No NFL team wants to part ways with productive depth linemen, even reserve players.
But as for a market, these players might be gettable via trade:
- Nick Allegretti (G, Washington Commanders)
- Liam Eichenberg (G, Miami Dolphins)
- Beux Limmer (C, Los Angeles Rams)
- Evan Neal (OT, New York Giants)
- Olu Oluwatimi (C, Seattle Seahawks)
- Trevor Penning (OT, New Orleans Saints)
- Will Putnam (C, Las Vegas Raiders)
None would cost much more than a late-round pick. Why? Well, those players aren’t stars or anything close to it.
Other Positions That Could Need Trade Help
Otherwise, for the sake of argument, assume that Patra has it wrong, and the Vikings are content with their offensive line depth, even in the face of relentless injury.
The cornerback spot could use some love. What happens if the team suffers an injury to Byron Murphy Jr. or Isaiah Rodgers? Then what? Exactly. A player like Tariq Woolen in Seattle could be intriguing.
After offensive line and cornerback, the trade market might be about the best player available, much like the popular draft mindset. If a team sells a player that Minnesota wants for 2025 and beyond, perhaps ponying up a mid-round pick might make sense.
Other NFC North Teams’ Trade Needs
Patra noted on the Detroit Lions‘ top trade need: “Biggest need: Cornerback. D.J. Reed’s hamstring injury isn’t season-ending, but he’ll be out “a while,” per Dan Campbell. Fellow starter Terrion Arnold is also banged up. At least in the short term, that puts Khalil Dorsey, Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox playing roles alongside nickel Amik Robertson. Even with Reed and Arnold eventually returning, Detroit could use some insurance.”
And for Chicago: “Biggest need: Help with run defense. Running back is an option, given D’Andre Swift’s ineffective play (3.3 yards per carry) so far. At this point, however, the NFL’s worst run defense is the bigger concern. The Bears have allowed 120-plus rushing yards each week, including a whopping 240 against the Raiders in Week 4.”
“The interior has been blown off the ball. And the offseason addition of Grady Jarrett — who missed Week 4 with a knee injury — hasn’t provided much of a boost in either the run game (four total tackles) or the pass rush (three QB pressures).”
Patra also suggested interior defensive line help for the Packers.
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