The Buccaneers Just Cut a WR the Vikings Might Need
Most onlookers believe the Minnesota Vikings need some WR depth after Rondale Moore’s season-ending injury a few weeks ago, Jordan Addison’s upcoming suspension, and Jalen Nailor’s unknown health prognosis (hand).
The Buccaneers just waived a wide receiver, and the move could put him on the Vikings’ radar as Minnesota continues to evaluate wideout options.
So when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived Trey Palmer on Tuesday, the transaction turned heads.
The man might fit perfectly on Minnesota’s roster — if he clears the NFL’s waiver process.
Buccaneers Cut WR, Sparking Possible Vikings Interest
It’s a waiver-wire waiting game now for Minnesota.
Trey Palmer Dropped by Tampa Bay
Palmer will need a new NFL employer.
The 33rd Team‘s Ari Meirov tweeted Tuesday, the deadline for all roster cuts: “The Bucs are waiving WR Trey Palmer. The former 6th-round pick has 51 catches, 557 yards, and 4 TDs in his young career, but was in a deep receiving room. Rick Stroud on the news first.”
Tampa Bay’s WR room is packed with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and rookie Emeka Egbuka, among others, so Palmer apparently became expendable.
The Perfect Addition for Minnesota
Palmer has 4.36 speed, is 6’1,” and has youth on his side. He only logs about 17 receiving yards per game, but the working theory suggests Minnesota could afford the speedster more targets on Sundays.
The LSU alumnus also returns punts and kicks, and with Brandon Powell and Myles Gaskin no longer a part of the Vikings’ roster orbit, the return game feels in flux or suspect. In one swoop, Palmer could fill a wide receiver, kick returner, and punt returner need for Kevin O’Connell’s team.
Rondale Moore … but Taller
Palmer could very reasonably be the Rondale Moore replacement in Minnesota — like a one-for-one swap. They share the same athletic and talent profile, though Palmer is about five inches taller.
Minnesota signed Moore in March for WR4 and punt-returning duties, as the speedster healed from a season-ending knee injury with the Atlanta Falcons in the summer of 2024. In his first action back — as in his very first play — he injured his knee once again and is on the shelf for all of 2025.
It’s also a bit odd that Tampa Bay didn’t trade Palmer for a late-round draft pick if it knew waiving him was on the horizon.
Waiver Process in the Way
The big hurdle is the waiver process. The Vikings must merely cross their fingers and hope that Palmer falls 24 spots on the waiver wire. In all likelihood, another team will claim Palmer because of his youth, speed, and versatility. If his name sounds familiar, it’s his recency: the Buccaneers drafted him in 2023 from Round 6.
There’s a small chance, generally speaking, that Palmer tumbles down the waiver wire, enabling Minnesota to pounce. It will morph into a top Vikings storyline for the next 30 hours or so.
More on Palmer
Before Palmer’s waiver on Tuesday morning, Bucs Wire‘s Ashlie Abrahams wrote, “Tampa Bay finds itself in a crowded wide receiver room as the 53-man roster deadline approaches this Tuesday. Among the names under scrutiny is Trey Palmer.”
“Despite flashes of potential in his rookie year, Palmer’s 2024 performance suggests he might be more valuable as a trade asset than a fixture on the final roster. Given a deep receiver corps boosted by the arrivals of Emeka Egbuka (2025 first-round pick), Jalen McMillan (2024 third-rounder), and Tez Johnson, alongside cornerstones Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr, Palmer’s path to meaningful snaps is narrower this season.”
For Vikings fans who want a piece of Palmer, it’s now a day-long waiting game to see if he clears waivers, which feels unlikely.
Abrahams added, “Still, his elite speed, in the low 4.3s, and ability to contribute on special teams retain his trade value. If Tampa looks to capitalize, the Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be the most logical trade partner. Following the departure of George Pickens and the acquisition of DK Metcalf, the Steelers need a vertical threat to complement their revamped receiving corps, and Palmer fits that mold.”
“For the Buccaneers, trading Palmer for a late-round draft pick could provide more value than keeping him.”
Palmer turned 24 this offseason and was a teammate of Justin Jefferson’s at LSU.
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