Vikings Could Be a Sleeper Trade Destination for Star WR
A prominent 2025 offseason talking point, Miami Dolphins wide receiver and future Hall of Famer Tyreek Hill could yet again be on the NFL’s trade block.
The Vikings could quietly emerge as a sleeper trade spot for a HOF wide receiver, adding humongous firepower to the purple offense ahead of the 2025 season.
Hill demanded a trade from the Dolphins seven months ago after his team failed to qualify for the postseason, later walking back the frustration but sideways remaining in the trade rumor mill.
A new theory suggests Miami could deal Hill to the highest bidder, and don’t look now, but the Minnesota Vikings cannot be ruled out of that would-be sweepstakes.
A Tyreek Hill Deal Is Semi-Realistic for the Vikings
ESPN seems to believe Hill could find a new team before too long.
ESPN Hints at Tyreek Hill’s Trade Availability
While not totally ablaze, the Hill rumor mill is sprouting legs, not unlike January when Hill freaked out and wanted the hell out of South Beach.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter last weekend, “So his status is uncertain, with an oblique injury right now, as for when he gets back in the lineup, is still up in the air. Right now, I have talked to a few teams that are at least monitoring his future a little bit. Could he be a potential trade target? I know the Dolphins earlier this summer were telling teams, no, we’re not trading Tyreek Hill.”
“But they just wonder, is he going to be available? It could be wishful thinking. Maybe they want him to be available, but he’s a player that when I bring up the teams and say, ‘Who’s sort of a trade target you’re watching?’ They bring up Tyreek Hill, so we’ll see. He’s a big option for Tua and that’d be a major move if they did move away from him.”
Hill would have an ample suitor market if Fowler is on to something.
Budding WR Need for Minnesota
Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Justin Jefferson has missed most of training camp with a minor hamstring malady. Jordan Addison will miss the season’s first three games because of a “wet reckless” suspension. Rondale Moore likely suffered a season-ending injury on Saturday. Jalen Nailor hasn’t produced an electrifying training camp. And rookie pass-catcher Tai Felton will need time to develop.
So, yes, most fans wouldn’t object to trading for a high-profile wide receiver — like Hill.
Tyreek Hill Never Shy about Vikings Fandom
Hill has expressly stated a few times that he grew up as a Vikings fan. Here’s one example.
He said in the summer of 2023, “Growing up a kid, I was a Minnesota Vikings fan. I love the Vikes, man.”
That comment sent purple fans into a tizzy at the time, even if Hill wasn’t for sale. Hill has also gone on record, calling Adrian Peterson the best running back of all time — probably why he’s a Minnesota fan in the first place.
Let’s put it this way: Hill wouldn’t be mad about finishing his career in Minnesota. He grew up in love with the purple team.
The Would-Be MIN WR Room
Assume Fowler has it right and Hill is traded. After that, pretend that it’s Kevin O’Connell’s team. The WR room would look like this in 2025:
- Justin Jefferson
- Tyreek Hill
- Jordan Addison
- Jalen Nailor
- Lucky Jackson
- Tai Felton
Onlookers would burst with excitement about the group. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy would be utterly set up for success.
More Hill Trade Fodder
Bleacher Report‘s Joseph Zucker also weighed in on the blooming Hill trade sweepstakes.
He wrote Sunday, “If the Dolphins had any designs on moving Hill, then surely a trade would’ve happened by now. His newest injury only lessens the odds, with Fowler reporting a timeline for his return ‘is still up in the air right now.’ At such a late juncture of the offseason, parting ways with the 31-year-old pass-catcher wouldn’t make a lot of sense.”
“There would be a massive void in the offense with few means available to address it. Any draft capital that comes back couldn’t be utilized until 2026 at the earliest, and no veteran who’s available in free agency would come close to approximating Hill’s on-field value.”
Hill earns $30 million per season, and that massive sum would be a challenge to fit in Minnesota’s budget.
Zucker added, “As the 2024 season drew to a close, the five-time All-Pro’s future in South Florida looked a little shaky. But he quickly downplayed the significance of his cryptic comments following a Week 18 loss to the New York Jets, and all indicators point to him remaining on the Dolphins when this year kicks off.”
“For teams in need of receiver help, there’s no harm in at least maintaining a line of communication with Miami. But any pursuit of Hill is shaping up to be futile absent a change in circumstance.”
If Minnesota viewed itself as a sure-fire Super Bowl contender this year, a Hill deal would check some boxes, particularly with Moore’s injury and Nailor’s questionable WR3 upside.
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