The Vikings Should Trade for One Man at the Deadline
The following week could be one of the quietest trade deadlines since general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah arrived in 2022. Why? Well, nobody knows if the team will surge and win some games — or embark on a lost season due to multiple injuries. But if the club does trade for a veteran player within the next week, it should be New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor.
The NFL trade deadline is one week away, and the Minnesota Vikings should acquire one player specifically for a 2025 roster need and beyond.
Taylor’s rookie contract runs out in New Orleans after this season, and if Minnesota swung a deal for his services, he could aid the defensive secondary this season and stick around for the long haul.
Vikings Should Call the Saints about CB Alontae Taylor
Taylor is allegedly on the block.
A Mid-Round Pick to New Orleans Might Get the Deal Done for Alontae Taylor
Taylor is on the trade block, according to ESPN, at least theoretically.
Jeremy Fowler wrote last week, “The buzz: This would be a surprise but is still one to watch. The Saints don’t want to trade Taylor but would consider it if they receive a strong offer. He is on the radar of a few teams. Taylor is a 2026 free agent who figures to earn a big payday, and it’s worth noting that the Saints have a young core of defensive backs they like in Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley and Jonas Sanker.”
Matt Bowen, also of ESPN, added, “The tape: Taylor’s versatility and urgent play style shows on the tape. He has the speed to cover on the perimeter, but he can also play a disruptive role in the slot. In four years with the Saints, Taylor has 6 sacks, 3 INTs and 36 pass breakups.”
The duo opined that Taylor has a 25% chance of getting traded. So, why not the Minnesota?
Why Taylor?
Taylor was an “old” rookie during the 2022 NFL Draft. That year was his age-24 season — similar to former Vikings cornerback Mekhi Blackmon in 2023.
So, Taylor isn’t the youngest commodity imaginable, turning 27 in December. However, his rookie contract expires in a few months, and all signs point to Taylor hitting free agency, as New Orleans has Kool-Aid McKinstry in the saddle for Taylor’s job.
Meanwhile, the Saints are one of the NFL’s worst teams — perhaps the worst — and most believe they will sell before the deadline next week.
Minnesota needs a cornerback for the future next to Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers — why not Taylor? Jeff Okudah suffered his second concussion of the season last week, and when he’s not concussed, opposing quarterbacks are making him look foolish.
Fire up the Taylor trade, extend his contract, and Minnesota will have three startable CBs on the roster for 2026 and beyond: Murphy Jr., Rodgers, and Taylor.
Taylor’s Pro Football Focus Resume
Here’s Taylor’s PFF resume through four seasons:
2025: 64.3
2024: 45.0
2023: 45.7
2022: 54.5
And the passer-rating-against:
2025: 97.7
2024: 111.0
2023: 85.6
2022: 62.6
And a reminder: Minnesota wouldn’t be trading for a Pro Bowler with this recommendation. This would be a CB3 behind Murphy Jr. and Rodgers. Taylor’s next contract won’t be inordinately expensive either, since he’s not an elite corner. He’s a decent one, and that’s why his trade price wouldn’t be staggering.
The Theoretical CB Room
Assume the Taylor deal comes to fruition for a moment. Minnesota would boast a CB room like this for the rest of the season:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Alontae Taylor
- Jeff Okudah (Concussion)
- Dwight McGlothern
- Fabian Moreau (Practice Squad)
- Zemaiah Vaughn (Practice Squad)
- Tyrek Funderburk (Practice Squad)
SI.com on Taylor
Vito Chirco opined on Taylor’s profile and availability this week, “The New Orleans Saints are in the middle of a freefall at 1-6, and with the NFL trade deadline looming on November 4, they’re shaping up to be one of the league’s biggest sellers.”
“Among the players who could be on the move is cornerback Alontae Taylor, a 2022 second-round pick who has quietly developed into one of the Saints’ most reliable defensive backs. At 26 years old, Taylor is potentially just entering his prime, and already boasts significant experience.”
Minnesota has produced at least one trade per regular season with Adofo-Mensah in charge.
“In 54 career games, he has totaled 244 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, 44 passes defensed, two interceptions, six sacks and three forced fumbles – a stat line that showcases his versatility. Taylor, in fact, has logged extensive time both in the slot and on the outside, playing 172 snaps at nickel and 117 on the boundary this season, according to Pro Football Focus,” Chirco continued.
“That positional flexibility is exactly what Detroit’s secondary needs at the present moment. Thus far this season, Taylor, a University of Tennessee product, has recorded a 67.6 PFF coverage grade, the 33rd-best mark among 112 qualified cornerbacks. Plus, he’s earned a 64.7 PFF overall mark, the 43rd-best overall grade among all corners.”
Minnesota has one week to decide on any deals.
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