Popular Vikings WR Evidently a Trade Candidate
In about 17 weeks, the Minnesota Vikings will shave their 90-man roster to 53 and formulate a practice squad with just over a dozen players.
Popular Vikings WR Evidently a Trade Candidate
The franchise recently drafted Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton in Round 3, a speedy and promising asset for the future.
And because general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chose Felton a week and a half ago, the team’s current WR3, Jalen Nailor, is evidently a roster cut or trade candidate, according to Pro Football Network.
PFN Names Jalen Nailor as Trade or Cut Option
PFN’s Sterling Xie defined one cut or trade candidate for each NFL team last week, and upon arriving at the Vikings section, he nominated Nailor, a 26-year-old speedy playmaker.
Xie explained, “With only five draft picks, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t have much of an opportunity to heavily impact their pre-existing roster. However, in taking wide receiver Tai Felton in Round 3, the Vikings added to a position that already felt solidified, putting some of the non-Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison wideouts on alert.”
“One of those is Jalen Nailor, the clear No. 3 receiver for Minnesota last season. The former sixth-round pick is in the final season of his rookie contract and has played roughly 60% of his career snaps out wide, with Jefferson largely playing the slot in three-receiver sets.”
For some, Nailor was a fringe roster cut theory last summer, but then the speedster showed up for the 2025 campaign and made a difference. Most Vikings fans have removed Nailor from any cut lists or trade blocks.
Xie added, “Felton is also primarily a perimeter receiver, meaning the Vikings could see him as Nailor’s successor in 11 personnel. If Minnesota doesn’t intend to extend Nailor and Felton has a strong preseason, he might not have a ton of roster value given his limited special-teams value (56 special-teams snaps in the last two seasons combined).”
The Theory Isn’t That in Tune with Vikings Football
Not long ago, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell pounded the table for Nailor, explaining that he expects the Michigan State alumnus to take another huge step in 2025.
O’Connell said in April that he expects a “massive, massive year” from Nailor — the antithesis of trade and cut fodder.
Nailor finally completed a healthy season in 2024, and although his production felt hot and cold at times, he represented a solid WR3 most of the time.
Wondering about an Extension Is Fair Game
Nailor’s contract, however, will expire after the 2025 campaign if he does not reach an extension with Adofo-Mensah in the next 10 months.
Wondering if Nailor will stay affixed to the depth chart for a second contract is totally fair game. Yet, formulating cut and trade theories just seems like the opposite of what Vikings leaders have said all offseason.
Drafting Felton could be a contingency plan for 2026 and beyond, not necessarily 2025.
No Benefit to Cutting or Trading Nailor
What’s more, Nailor’s contract is guaranteed no matter what. He has one year left on his rookie deal, and beginning in 2026, he’ll be eligible for an extension. Cutting or trading Nailor would save the Vikings a million bucks.
Financially, there is no upside to releasing or trading Nailor this summer, and in fact, it makes more sense to keep him on board — even if Felton absolutely balls out at training camp and in the preseason. In that case, Nailor would become roster depth, which Minnesota has coveted this offseason with a bevy of free-agent signings.
Alternative Take on Nailor
PurplePTSD‘s Janik Eckardt highlighted Nailor’s role in Minnesota last month.
He wrote, “Nailor posted a season-long stat line of 28 catches for 414 yards and six touchdowns. In the first three games, he recorded seven catches for 106 yards and three scores, most of that without Addison on the field, showing that he can produce as the secondary option. Of course, if Addison were forced to miss time, Hockenson would also be present this time.”
“The former sixth-round pick showed bright flashes early in his career, but injuries kept holding him back. Last season, his third, he was finally healthy, and his output increased.”
Believe it or not, Nailor might be the one draft pick from the 2022 class who pans out.
Eckardt added, “Nailor’s production took a big hit in the middle of the season, overlapping with Hockenson’s return. In the final two regular season games, however, he caught a combined eight passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. More consistency should be his goal in a contract year, but O’Connell expects him to position himself nicely for free agency in 11 months, but there will be some competition.”
“Regardless. Nailor is, at this point, the next man up if Addison misses time. He wants to build on his breakout season and establish himself as a reliable and explosive pass-catcher in the NFL.”
Onlookers shouldn’t spend much time contemplating a Nailor release or trade, and instead, they should consider a modest extension as more realistic.
Nailor is one of the fastest players on the Vikings’ roster and might even be faster than the aforementioned Felton.
Rams Could Prevent Splashy Vikings Trade
You must be logged in to post a comment.