Fox Sports Publishes Fantastic Trade Idea for Vikings
The Miami Dolphins have offloaded oodles of premium players in the last few months, and if they follow suit with running back De’Von Achane, Fox Sports believes the Minnesota Vikings should be his landing spot.
Achane may be a long shot for Minnesota, but the theory has enough logic to get attention.
Miami’s brass has recently insisted that Achane is not for sale, but Ralph Vacchiano isn’t entirely buying it.
Frank Smith Connection Gives the Achane Trade Theory Some Teeth
Achane to Minnesota? Yes, please.
Fox Sports: Achane to MIN for a 3rd and a 5th Makes Sense
Vacchiano published one trade theory per team this week, with Minnesota landing Achane.
He explained the deal, “Acquire: RB De’Von Achane from the Miami Dolphins. Cost: 2026 third-round pick (82nd), fifth-round pick (163rd). The Vikings brought back Aaron Jones, but he’s 31 and constantly battling injuries. And while he’s a good receiver out of the backfield, Achane is a great one, a much faster and more dynamic player overall and seven years younger (24).”
“The Dolphins say they want to keep him after he ran for 1,350 yards and caught 67 passes for 488 yards last season. But they have the look of a team undergoing a fire sale, so surely they have their price. Achane will need a contract extension, so maybe a third-round pick and change will do it. The Dolphins would be crazy to say no for a second-rounder.”
Vacchiano also shipped Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the Los Angeles Rams for a 2nd-Round pick.
A Steal of a Deal
It’s important to reiterate that Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has emphatically stated that Achane is not for sale.
“Achane is a very, very, very important piece of what we’re going to do moving forward. He’s a building block for us. It is a priority for us to get a deal done with him in the coming weeks, months,” Dolphins boss Sullivan told reporters last month.
“My job is always to listen. Nobody’s untouchable in this business. I don’t believe in that, because you never know who’s on the other side of the phone, what they’re going to offer, but there’s zero effort on my end to move Achane.”
Yet, leaning into the final part of that quote — nobody’s untouchable — obtaining Achane for a 3rd- and 5th-Rounder would be an absolute no-brainer for the Vikings or any NFL team. The new general manager would just have to find the money in the budget for Achane’s upcoming contract extension, which could fetch over $15 million per year.
A to Z Sports‘ Kyle Crabbs on Achane’s future in Miami: “The Dolphins are no strangers to tough talks and negotiations. But what does make for a compelling storyline (but not necessarily a reason to worry) is how this front office, headlined by new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, handles things. Miami’s past regime got ran over by big names looking for big money. How amicable will negotiations with Achane be?”
“The Dolphins haven’t really hid from the idea that they’re intent on keeping Achane in town and Sullivan has signaled on more than one occasion that they fully intend to keep Achane in South Florida. The general manager even went so far as to call an extension a ‘priority’ this offseason.”
Achane skipped the Dolphins’ voluntary offseason program this week, citing his desire for a new contract.
Vikings Coaching Connection to Achane
Miami’s offseason reshuffle has fueled speculation about further player movement. Following the departures of players like Bradley Chubb, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle, attention has naturally shifted to the rest of the roster, with Achane’s name frequently surfacing. This speculation isn’t due to Miami’s desire to trade him, but rather his perceived high value and the anticipated interest from other teams.
A clear connection exists between Achane and the Vikings. New Vikings assistant head coach Frank Smith spent four seasons in Miami under Mike McDaniel and helped develop Achane. This familiarity could significantly factor into the assessment of Achane’s fit in Minnesota.
Should Achane’s situation ever move beyond speculation, the Vikings would have to be at the top of the list due to the Smith connect.
The Numbers
As a rookie, Achane tabulated 997 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns. He got better as a sophomore in 2024, accruing 1,499 scrimmage yards and 12 scores. How about more improvement? Achane has it: 1,838 and 12 more paydirts last season.
The guy gets better each year, and if he’s maximized to his fullest in a 2026 offense, he can hit 2,000 yards from scrimmage. The progress is there.
If Achane is not available to the Vikings, they may draft a rookie runner, perhaps a player in Round 2 or later, such as Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, Washington’s Jonah Coleman, or Arkansas’s Mike Washington Jr.
Achane will turn 25 in October. He’s smack dab in the middle of his prime, with four seasons probably left of it.
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