3 Vikings Trade Candidates to Boost the Defense
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense was the backbone of the team, keeping the 2025 Vikings competitive while the offense struggled all season. There have been some changes to the unit this offseason, and there could be room for one more move. Here are three Vikings trade candidates to boost the defense ahead of the 2026 season.
Defensive Depth Could Become Minnesota’s Trade Focus
I recently wrote about Pro Football Focus’s selection of Blake Cashman as a potential trade candidate. The three players named here appear in the same article and are players the Vikings should be interested in if they want to improve their team.
Minnesota isn’t blessed with a ton of salary cap space, but that can be worked around if you want it to. If the Vikings really want to be competitive in a tough division, here are three defensive players who can make a difference.
Ronnie Hickman (S), Cleveland Browns
Safety was one of the big areas of concern in Minnesota coming into the offseason, and there hasn’t been much done to alleviate those concerns other than drafting Jakobe Thomas in the third round of this year’s draft. Adding a player like Cleveland’s Ronnie Hickman would give the team a solid starter who thrives on coverage, and at a good age to be a long-term solution. Here is what PFF says about Hickman and his trade potential.
Although the Browns were widely lauded for assembling one of the league’s best draft classes, their rookie crop might have ripple effects on someone like Hickman.
The 24-year-old has been sneakily good since being an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, producing at least a 70.6 overall PFF grade in every year. In 2025 specifically, Hickman thrived in coverage with a 75.3 PFF coverage mark — the 10th-best among qualified safeties — while averaging a sound 29.0 snaps per reception.
After Cleveland drafted Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round, it suggests that either Hickman or Grant Delpit isn’t in the team’s long-term future. Both are on expiring contracts, although Hickman seems like the better trade piece given his superior production and younger age.
Jeremy Chinn (S), Las Vegas Raiders
Chinn is the more veteran option at safety with six seasons accrued in the league. He would be a solid option and would improve the Vikings’ safety unit, but he’s not the coverage guy I believe the team needs. Here is what PFF says about his availability.
Chinn enjoyed a resurgent season with the Raiders, but his future with the team might be in doubt.
The former second-round pick played to a 67.7 overall PFF grade in his first campaign in Las Vegas, his best since 2021. Chinn’s 69.5 PFF run-defense grade placed in the 67th percentile at the position, and he missed a modest 9.9% of his tackle attempts.
The Raiders made a splash when they selected versatile Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes with the 38th overall pick. While Stukes may play all over the secondary, he figures to be more of a traditional safety considering the team also acquired slot corner Taron Johnson. As a result, organizations could call about Chinn with just one year left on his contract.
Jer’Zhan Newton (DT), Washington Commanders
Minnesota bolstered its interior defensive line in this year’s draft, selecting both Caleb Banks (first round) and Domonique Orange (third round). So did Washington, and that could leave former second-round pick Jer’Zhan Newton available. Newton has struggled in run defense, but he has proven he can be an effective pass rusher, and at the right price, Brian Flores could make good use of him as a pass rush specialist. Here is PFF’s lowdown on Newton.
The Commanders relentlessly fortified their ailing defense this offseason, including along the defensive line. However, that negatively affects someone like Newton.
The 36th overall pick in 2024 hasn’t blossomed as Washington would’ve hoped, notching a career 50.0 overall PFF grade with a 38.6 PFF run-defense grade. Yet what has been encouraging is Newton’s pass-rushing, as his 9.3% pass-rush win rate placed in the 63rd percentile last year.
The Commanders inked former Texans interior defender Tim Settle to a three-year, $25.5 million contract during free agency, which only pushes Newton down the depth chart. The 23-year-old former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year could garner attention for teams looking to bet on his upside.
Of these three options, Hickman would be the top prize and the player I’d most like to see the Vikings pursue. However, Newton would also be an intriguing option. It remains to be seen if Minnesota has any desire to be in the trade market.
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