Twitter Floats Bold Vikings Trade Idea
The Minnesota Vikings have a break ongoing until training camp in late July.
A new Vikings trade proposal is on X, also known as Twitter — involving a rookie and a multi-pick swap. Would general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pull the trigger?
But that doesn’t stop flashy trade theories from hitting the internet. The latest? The notion that disgruntled Cincinnati Bengals EDGE rusher should find his way to the Vikings.
The idea was presented on X by FantasyLife‘s Thor Nystrom.
What Twitter Is Saying about the Theoretical Trade
Thor Nystrom Says “Why Not? on a Vikings Trade for Shemar Stewart
Likely only half-serious because Minnesota doesn’t have a screaming need for an outside linebacker, Nystrom tweeted last Friday, “Who says no? Vikings get: Shemar Stewart. Bengals get: Walter Rouse, Levi Drake Rodriguez, 2026 R2, 2027 R4. #FreeShemarStewart.”
The would-be swap would assuredly tilt in the Vikings’ favor. First-round rookies typically aren’t available for trade two months after entry into the NFL.
Yet, as the Bengals’ obdurate ways continue, a trade could be the endgame.
Totally Dysfunction in Cincinnati
Cincinnati has a few fires burning. A veteran EDGE rusher — who plays the same position as Stewart — wants a large contract extension. His name is Trey Hendrickson, and he’s an absolute sack fiend. So far this offseason, the Bengals have said “no” to Hendrickson’s financial demands.
And the dealings with Hendrickson, at least to the naked observing eyes, aren’t much different than Stewart’s. The Texas A&M alumnus merely wants his 1st-Round rookie contract, and the Bengals’ brass just can’t find a compromise.
Shemar Stewart’s Scouting Report
Before the draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein comparedStewart to Roy Robertson-Harris and detailed his scouting report: “Stewart is carved from granite, possessing a rare blend of traits, explosiveness and untapped upside. He’s long and sudden off the snap but hasn’t learned to weaponize his hands to control the point of attack and bypass protection with go-to moves. His bull-rush compresses the pocket off the edge, and he’s too athletic for guards when reduced inside.”
“He can be very disruptive in both phases but requires additional training to start converting his opportunities into finishes. The lack of production relative to the traits is a concern; still, players who move like him are highly coveted. While the boom-or-bust label might be in play, it feels like a matter of time before it all starts to click at a high level.”
So, that toolkit is what the Vikings would welcome aboard if Nystom’s trade theory somehow materialized.
Vikings Don’t Really Need EDGE Rushers
The knock on Nystrom’s proposal? Well, the Vikings don’t really need EDGE rushers. In fact, during the 2024 season, they couldn’t find a way to get rookie Dallas Turner enough snaps, leading some fans to pan the pick after just one season.
Minnesota already employs two Pro Bowl outside linebackers, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Hypothetically, the Stewart trade, sponsored by Nystrom, would create this 2025 EDGE department in Minnesota:
- Jonathan Greenard
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Dallas Turner
- Shemar Stewart
- Bo Richter
- Gabriel Murphy
- Tyler Batty
The stuff of dreams.
Bengals-Themed Media on the Shemar Stewart Strife
Bengals fans and analysts are frustrated by the team’s knack for playing hardball — with everybody as of late.
StripeHype.com‘s Glenn Adams wrote on June 20th, “The popular thing to do this offseason is to dunk on the Bengals’ front office. The most prevalent arguments are that they are cheap and do not keep up with the times. However, now that they are keeping up with the times, they appear cheap.”
“That is crazy talk around a team that made Joe Burrow the highest-paid quarterback in history at the time of his signing, anointed Ja’Marr Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback player in NFL history, extended his running mate, Tee Higgins, in the same offseason.”
Generally speaking, it’s mind-boggling and stubborn that Cincinnati can’t do something as simple as signing a rookie.
Adams added, “There are also new reports of talks resuming between the team and Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals’ front office and Stewart’s representation must work together to find a solution. Each side may need to relinquish something they do not want to get a deal done.”
“Or, Stewart can re-enter the draft again next year, which would run the risk of a team with this language already in their contracts for first-rounders selecting him in 2026. Then all of this will have been for nothing. Hopefully, something will get worked out by the time rookies report to training camp. If not, this situation could get far more uncomfortable before the two sides resolve their differences.”
It’s also worth noting that Stewart isn’t a firebrand personality whose personality screams “hard to work with.” The Bengals must find a compromise.
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