Could the Vikings Really Trade Their Speedster?
Minnesota Vikings players are not strangers to the trade rumor mill, particularly after the draft, when NFL dealings reach a standstill until training camp in July.
Could the Vikings Really Trade Their Speedster?
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has spent the last two months constructing an impressive roster through free agency and the draft, making his depth chart worthy of Super Bowl contendership if the young quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, has the stomach for the QB1 job.
And in the trade rumor mill, one Viking’s name has suddenly emerged — Jalen Nailor, the club’s third wide receiver.
But one must wonder, does Nailor really belong in the trade rumor mill?
Jalen Nailor Trade Rumors Suddenly Rampant
Because the Vikings used a 3rd-Round pick on a wide receiver two weeks ago, Nailor became expendable in the eyes of some.
Athlon Sports ran with the idea here. And it appears the idea was born at Pro Football Network here.
A national audience basically observed the 3rd-Round of Minnesota’s draft and decided that Nailor was on borrowed time — for better or worse.
Tai Felton in the House
Indeed, Adofo-Mensah pulled Tai Felton from Round 3, a fellow speedster from Maryland, which is where Minnesota found Stefon Diggs 10 years ago. Fans weren’t shy about likening Felton to Diggs, though the two players share markedly different strengths.
Felton features speed and a palpable deep threat in an offense. If that sounds familiar, it’s because that’s Nailor’s modus operandi.
For the long term, the Vikings drafted Felton to succeed as a WR2 or WR3, but to suggest Nailor is on his way out is a little premature.
Rondale Moore, Too
Before the Felton draft selection, Rondale Moore turned purple via free agency.
The former 2nd-Rounder never lived up to his potential — if you’re curious, he’s a speedy wideout, too, and may even be faster than Nailor and Felton — in Arizona, cast off last offseason to the Atlanta Falcons, where he promptly suffered a season-ending injury.
Based on his initial NFL scouting report, Moore should have the juice for WR3, but it’s unclear if Minnesota will value him more than Nailor and Felton. Probably not.
A Contract Year for Nailor
The leading evidence to support a Nailor trade is his contract.
If he’s not extended, the Michigan State alumnus will hit free agency in 10 months, and in that forum, he might be able to secure a deal worth $5 million to $7 million per season. Outperforming in 2024 season totals will help.
Sometimes, in the NFL, players are traded before the employer has to extend them, and the Nailor trade theorists evidently peg him as such.
Brevan Bane on Nailor
PurplePTSD‘s Brevan Bane wrote about Nailor this week, “Nailor only eclipsed 50 yards receiving three other times in 2024, in Week 2 against the 49ers (54 yards), Week 7 against the Lions (76 yards), and Week 18 again against the Lions (53 yards). He also had eight games of 11 yards or less.”
“Nailor’s contract extension wasn’t going to be that lucrative to begin with, but especially now because the Vikings are seemingly-deep at a position that wasn’t when Nailor was the WR3 job, Minnesota has now gained all of that leverage to bring that number down if they really do wish to retain the young receiver.”
The Vikings’ wideout turned 26 in March, so he certainly has youth on his side, no matter what.
Bane concluded, “Nailor is every bit as expendable as K.J. Osborn was in the 2024 offseason, and Minnesota was right to let Osborn walk, seeing as the Patriots punted on him after he played only seven games with the team and caught seven total passes.”
“A trade for Nailor probably wouldn’t return the Vikings any draft capital to write home about, but some future late-round picks for a player you’d probably just let walk out the door after the season anyway should always be the preferred method to perform for pending free agents that are expendable.”
Probably a “No” on a Nailor Trade
At best, the Vikings could trade Nailor elsewhere for a 5th- or 6th-Round draft pick. He won’t fetch more than that, especially not after George Pickens became a Dallas Cowboy this week in a deal centered around a 3rd-Round pick with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aside from a late-round pick, Minnesota would gain nothing by trading Nailor. He’s affordable for one more season, and his speed is an asset to the offense.
While a trade wouldn’t blow onlookers away, it’s unlikely on the whole.
The Vikings Have Unfinished Business
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