Vikings CB Trade Options Narrow to Final 5
Minnesota Vikings fans hoped the purple team would land Jaire Alexander from open free agency or Jalen Ramsey via trade.
The Vikings might still need assistance at cornerback, but realistic trade options are down to about five dudes — including Greg Newsome II and Tariq Woolen.
Alexander signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a deal worth up to six million bucks, and the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins at a rather steep price (Minkah Fitzpatrick + 5th Round pick).
The heavy-hitter options are off the table.
But if Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah still prefers a trade, he might have about five final options. The following players are ranked in order of possibly ending up with the Vikings (No. 1 = most realistic).
5. Jaylen Watson (KC)
The Chiefs draft cornerbacks quite well, and there’s a decent chance that rookie Kohl Williams is game-ready sooner rather than later.
This season marks the final year of Jaylen Watson’s contract, and similar to La’Jarius Sneed during the 2024 offseason, Kansas City could trade Watson and receive something in return before his 2026 free agency.
Watson banked a 70.9 Pro Football Focus grade last season on 341 defensive snaps. Not bad.
Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano wrote about Watson as a possible trade candidate earlier this offseason: “The former seventh-rounder had emerged as a starting corner for Kansas City last year before a broken ankle cost him half the season. He did return for the playoffs and even started in the Super Bowl, so his health isn’t a concern.”
“But this offseason, the Chiefs signed cornerback Kristian Fulton, and next year they’re going to have to pay All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie at least $13 million on his fifth-year option. Watson will be a free agent, too, and they’re not likely to pay three corners. He’s only 27, so his value is still high because corners with his talent can be hard to find.”
Trade Options for Vikings at CB
Jaire Alexander and Jalen Ramsey are no more, but a handful of trade options remain.
4. Trevon Diggs (DAL)
Somehow, the Dallas Cowboys must pay Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, Terence Steele — and hopefully Trevon Diggs.
Parsons’ extension will deconstruct NFL norms, and it just feels like something’s gotta give in Dallas to afford all these gargantuan contracts.
Diggs could be the odd man out, especially after Jerry Jones just drafted Shavon Revel Jr. in April.
Bleacher Report claimed in May that Diggs could be obtained for a 6th-Round pick, a wild assertion. Minnesota should pounce if that’s anywhere close to accurate.
3. A Buccaneers CB
Tampa Bay has two promising young cornerbacks in its roster orbit: Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, both rookies. And those men are in addition to Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, and Christian Izien.
The Buccaneers probably don’t have the dough for Dean and McCollum too much longer, meaning one could be available via trade. Why else would Tampa Bay draft two corners in Round 2 and 3 this year?
Bleacher Report even recently spitballed that Dean could be released.
McCollum or Dean is the theoretical target here.
2. Tariq Woolen (SEA)
Woolen enters the final year of his contract this season, and Seattle already employs Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, and Shaquill Griffin at CB.
Like Watson above, the Seahawks could trade Woolen to get a draft pick for him before he embarks on free agency in eight months. It’s no secret that Minnesota’s defensive coordinator Brian Flores enjoys tall cornerbacks, and Woolen is that at 6’4.”
Before the draft, Seahawks writer Tim Weaver opined, “Moreover, Woolen has been benched by two consecutive Seahawks head coaches — getting dinged by Pete Carroll for a reluctance to tackle in 2023 and again by Mike Macdonald for violating team rules late last season. Overall, it’s a frustrating dynamic from a player who has all he physical tools he needs to be the best cornerback on the planet.”
“We’d prefer to keep Woolen if it’s purely a football decision and see if he can grow into something like an elite cover corner down the line. However, before we learn the answer to that question Woolen is due a new contract, as he’s heading into the final year of his rookie deal. Flawed though his game might be, Woolen’s ball skills and athleticism are likely to command a pretty powerful deal if he were to hit the open market.”
Woolen turned 26 in May.
Weaver continued, “That means Woolen could end up on the trade block at some point this year – possibly even as soon as the draft. If the Seahawks can get a third-round pick in return from a corner-needy team like the Bills a deal is worth exploring.”
This one might be the dream scenario now that Alexander and Ramsey are off the board.
1. Greg Newsome II (CLE)
Adofo-Mensah worked for Cleveland when Newsome II became a Brown via the 26th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He went on to accept the promotion as the Vikings’ boss the following winter.
Newsome II is due for an extension, and the Browns just don’t have spare money for such luxury items after spending the farm on Deshaun Watson in 2022.
Newsome II has been oft-rumored to the Vikings this offseason, and a trade makes sense, given Adofo-Mensah’s direct tie to him and Cleveland.
SI.com‘s Matthew Schmidt noted on Newsome II’s trade availability last week, “Cleveland has a pair of young cornerbacks slated to hit free agency next offseason in Newsome and Martin Emerson Jr., both of whom struggled last year. While the Browns definitely don’t seem likely to retain both, there is one problem with trading either one of them before the 2025 season: they don’t have much depth at the position.”
“Cleveland did not select a cornerback in the NFL Draft, leaving the Browns with very few viable options if they do ultimately move Newsome.”
Newsome II just turned 25 in May.
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