The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the February 7th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to DustinBakerNFL@gmail.com.
Questions Answered: Favorite Vikings Trade Theory, Overseas in 2025, Predicting Safeties
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: I know there are a lot of Vikings trade theories, but what is your favorite for the offseason?
Answer: A deal to get defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts.
According to Bleacher Report, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should be in the market for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Minnesota needs some interior defensive line enhancements, and per BR’s scouting collective staff, Buckner should be the trade target.
Here’s the trade in their estimation:
Vikings Get:
DeForest Buckner (DT)
2025 5th-Rounder
2025 6th-Rounder
Colts Get:
2025 3rd-Rounder
2025 5th-Rounder
BR explained, “The Vikings took a big step up in scoring defense this season. They finished fifth with Flores conducting a defense that had the highest blitz rate in the league. With a little more talent up front, they could be the best defense in the league. That’s the kind of ceiling they would have by adding a player like Buckner into the mix.”
This would be fantastic, so sign us up for this one.
Q: Will the Vikings play in Ireland or Australia in 2025?
Answer: Ireland is in play.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will “host” a game in Dublin, and Minnesota is already slated as a 2025 road opponent for the Steelers.
The Vikings enjoy playing overseas, so yes, Steelers vs. Vikings could occur in Ireland. We’ll learn for sure in May.
Q: The Vikings starting safeties in 2025 will be … who?
Answer: Our bold prediction for the 2025 safety room is Harrison Smith + Josh Metellus + Jevon Holland.
Our other bold take is that Minnesota takes the money it would’ve invested in Camryn Bynum and spends it on Holland, who has ties to Brian Flores from the Miami Dolphins days.
And with Flores back in Minnesota for Year No. 3, we think — hope — Smith will be back for a final hurrah.
Smith, Metellus, and Holland is our bold prediction.
If we’re wrong about Holland, well, the purple team would just run it back at safety while re-signing Bynum, which isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.