8 Players Who Could Spark the Vikings’ Next Big Trade
With general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah no longer attached to the Minnesota Vikings, the frequency of trades may screech to a halt. But for the sake of argument, let’s assume interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has some tricks up sleeve. These are the top eight players — big names — he could target.
Eight names to watch as Minnesota explores trade-market upgrades, including quarterbacks, trench help, and a few surprise options.
Minnesota has an almost full draft pick cabinet to wheel and deal, so there’s plenty of ammunition.
The Vikings’ Options for a Blockbuster
A peek at the Vikings’ would-be trade targets, listed in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely to be targeted by Minnesota.
8. Dexter Lawrence | DT, NYG
Lawrence could be on the trade block, and in theory, the Vikings should ship their No. 18 pick to New York for Lawrence and a mid-rounder.
Minnesota would presumably cut Javon Hargrave and roll with a defensive tackle corps that includes Lawrence, Jalen Redmond, Jonathan Allen, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Lawrence is 29, meaning he has about 3-5 ultra-productive seasons left.
7. Drew Lock | QB, SEA
The Seattle Seahawks grabbed Sam Darnold from the Vikings last offseason — and drafted Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in Round 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Lock is expendable. If Kevin O’Connell does not have big dreams of onboarding a big-name quarterback like Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, or Malik Willis, Lock has shown flashes in the past and has a strong arm.
Minnesota can probably get him for a 6th-Round pick or so.
6. Will Levis | QB, TEN
Levis is reckless, and no one disputes it. He’s basically Tennessee’s version of J.J. McCarthy. But with Cam Ward firmly in his role as QB1, Levis doesn’t have much footing with the Titans. His next team can pry him away for a late-round pick.
Between McCarthy and Levis, maybe O’Connell could whisper to one and hope for the best. Like Lock, Levis also has a strong arm.
5. Keon Coleman | WR, BUF
The Buffalo Bills’ owner oddly threw Coleman under the bus early in the offseason. He claimed former head coach Sean McDermott was accountable for the “bad” pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Coleman’s stock is low, and needing a WR3, the Vikings could trade a 5th-Rounder or so for him.
4. Anthony Richardson | QB, IND
Richardson is just like Levis: plagued by injuries and inconsistent. He has every physical tool, though, necessary to succeed. The Indianapolis Colts used Daniel Jones, Philip Rivers, and Riley Leonard at quarterback down the stretch of the 2025 regular season — basically everyone not named Anthony Richardson.
The Vikings could ship a late-rounder to Indianapolis for Richardson, hoping to see if he’s ready to forge a redemption story.
3. Jerry Jeudy | WR, CLE
Jeudy hasn’t panned on in Cleveland — unless Jameis Winston is under center. He needs a competent quarterback, and with any luck, Minnesota will have one by early summer. The Vikings could also let Jalen Nailor depart in free agency, and replacing him with Jeudy would excite the fan base.
From the Browns’ perspective, it would be financially more navigable to trade Jeudy after June 1st, so this could be a summer talker for Minnesota.
2. Kyler Murray | QB, ARI
Murray didn’t earn the top spot on this list for one reason: recent momentum suggests the Arizona Cardinals may release him. The Vikings could sign Murray for “free.”
Murray ran a 4.38 forty before entering the NFL, he can throw the ball 65-70 yards, and he’s the fifth-most accurate passer in the history of the league. He may not be scripted in a lab for O’Connell’s offense, but if he’s available on the open market, how could a quarterback-needy team like Minnesota possibly ignore the value?
1. Mac Jones | QB, SF
The San Francisco 49ers have overtly stated this offseason that they “don’t see themselves trading” Jones, which means they want a 1st- or 2nd-Rounder to jar him loose. O’Connell and his lieutenants must decide if Jones is worth a juicy draft pick, perhaps sending a 2nd-Rounder to San Francisco for Jones and a 4th-Round pick (or something similar).
Jones isn’t exactly like Sam Darnold — he doesn’t have Darnold’s arm strength — but he will have come from the 49ers’ roster, just like Darnold, and was a 1st-Round pick five years ago, just like Darnold.
In eight starts last season, Jones produced Darnoldian numbers. He’s probably the next reclamation story in the making.
It all boils down to whether Minnesota can part with precious draft capital after a) Drafting poorly over the last four years, b) Having a roster that is old-ish subsequently.
You must be logged in to post a comment.