Every WR Trade Scenario on the Vikings Radar
The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly in the trade market for another wide receiver after the franchise endured Rondale Moore’s season-ending injury, Jordan Addison’s upcoming suspension, and Jalen Nailor’s unknown return date from a jammed hand.
The Vikings remain linked to WR trade possibilities, with everyone outlining every scenario currently on the radar as the season nears.
The club also traded defensive tackle Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets on Wednesday, stockpiling two 6th-Round draft picks along the way that may be used on a shiny new wideout.
So, with the purple trade rumor mill stuffed to the gills with WR theories, this is a list of every possible WR target even remotely near the open market.
All the WRs the Vikings Could Target via Trade
Minnesota will likely onboard a new wideout via trade in the next 2.5 weeks.
Calvin Austin III (PIT)
With Roman Wilson’s delayed emergence, Austin III could be shopped. He logged 548 receiving yards in 2024, with 15.2 yards per reception.
Javon Baker (NE)
Patriots wideouts are a theme on this list, mainly because they have about eight rosterable commodities before the 53-man cutdown deadline.
Baker was basically ignored in New England’s offense as a rookie; he wouldn’t be ignored in Minnesota.
Kendrick Bourne (NE)
Bourne is 30, but he’s good for about 400-800 receiving yards per season, depending on usage — also known as perfect for Minnesota’s offense. If the Patriots prefer youth at WR, Bourne may be expendable.
Kayshon Boutte (NE)
Another Patriot, Boutte constructed a mini-breakout season in 2024, tabulating 589 receiving yards in 15 games. Like Baker in 2024 as a rookie, Boutte was largely disregarded in his first season, the 2023 campaign.
Jermaine Burton (CIN)
Mitchell Tinsley, an undrafted rookie, has emerged at Bengals training camp and in the preseason. If that holds, there’s a world where Cincinnati trades the controversial Burton, who has some off-the-field baggage.
Romeo Doubs (GB)
The Vikings would have to break kayfabe here, trading with their most hated rival. Still, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had no problems trading with NFC North foes during the draft a few years ago. Maybe he’ll do it again, extracting Doubs from a crowded Packers WR room.
Tyreek Hill (MIA)
A big fish here, pun intended, Hill asked for a trade last January when the Dolphins missed the postseason. He walked that back, but has sideways remained in the trade rumor mill since.
It’s also worth noting that Hill is always quick to proclaim that Minnesota was his favorite football team as a kid.
Van Jefferson (TEN)
Not a splashy option, Jefferson has ties to Kevin O’Connell from the Rams days. The pair crossed paths in 2020 and 2021.
Jauan Jennings (SF)
An injury currently hobbles Jennings, but he was included because he’s been on the trade block for a couple of months. Adofo-Mensah also has a connection to the San Francisco 49ers’ front office.
Quentin Johnston (LAC)
Johnston has put several bloopers on tape since turning pro as a 1st-Rounder in 2023. If he can put the gaffes behind him, he might be best served to try a change of scenery.
Allen Lazard (NYJ)
A former Packer, Lazard is a consistent WR3 who may not be in the New York Jets’ long-term plan now that Aaron Rodgers is gone. He’d be perfect for a few weeks as Minnesota’s WR2 with Addison on the shelf.
Terry McLaurin (WAS)
McLaurin will turn 30 next month and wants a chunky new contract. Minnesota may not have the funds for the request, but if Adofo-Mensah was funky enough to trade Harrison Phillips out of nowhere, men like McLaurin must be included on this list.
Jakobi Meyers (LV)
The Las Vegas Raiders have no truly dependable wideouts besides Meyers. If they want youth, leaving Meyers as an odd man out, he’d adapt nicely to O’Connell’s pass-happy offense.
Chris Olave (NO)
Olave to Minnesota sprouted legs on Twitter (X) this week. It’s unclear how the Vikings would afford Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Chris Olave on the same budget, but for the pro-Olave camp, that’s a salary cap problem for another offseason. Minnesota would own Olave’s rights through the end of 2026.
Trey Palmer (TB)
Palmer could’ve been gettable a week or so ago before Jalen McMillan hit injured reserve. Still, if Minnesota desired a taller version of Rondale Moore, well, that’s Palmer.
Alec Pierce (IND)
The 2025 season is the final year of Pierce’s contract, and if Indianapolis already knows it won’t re-sign him, it can send him to the North Star State.
Ja’Lynn Polk (NE)
The final New England wide receiver on the list, Polk could be waived next week when the Patriots reduce their roster from 90 players to 53.
Curtis Samuel (BUF)
A jack-of-all-trades option, Minnesota could utilize Samuel a lot more than Buffalo this season. The Bills’ WR depth chart is suddenly crowded.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC)
Smith-Schuster is 28 and has never rekindled the spark from his mammoth 2018 season. But he could flourish in the Twin Cities.
Adam Thielen (CAR)
Probably the most likely trade candidate on this list, the Vikings could trade for Thielen, use him as a WR2 until Addison returned, and then provide a justified retirement tour for one of their legends.
Meanwhile, Carolina must determine next week where Thielen fits in this WR room:
- Tetairoa McMillan
- Xavier Legette
- Jalen Coker
- David Moore
- Jimmy Horn
- Hunter Renfrow
Jalen Tolbert (DAL)
With Jonathan Mingo now injured, a Tolbert trade is less likely. Otherwise, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will take care of most of Dallas’ WR target share.
Jordan Whittington (LAR)
Whitting is the WR4 in Los Angeles. He’d receive a promotion via Minnesota trade, and Los Angeles could promote from within: Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, or Tru Edwards.
Roman Wilson (PIT)
Starting and ending the list with Steelers’ wideouts, if Pittsburgh decides one or the other — Calvin Austin III or Roman Wilson — is expendable, it could send the one to the Vikings.
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