Category: Trade Deadline

Mike Florio has a bold suggestion for the Vikings roster

The NBC analyst thinks the Vikings should look into the veteran if Minnesota drops a couple of games in the coming weeks.

There will be all kinds of rumors spreading before the November 5 NFL trade deadline, and with the Minnesota Vikings standing at 5-0 in the season, you could hear their names involved in all kinds of rumors. One NFL insider already tried to link the Vikings to a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and now NBC’s Mike Florio has another out-of-this-world take.

Florio believes, that if the Vikings drop two straight games, Minnesota should consider trading for Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford.

“If, for example, the Jets provided a blueprint for making Sam Darnold look mortal, the Vikings would be wise (if they lose to the Lions and then to Stafford’s Rams) to at least entertain the possibility of an upgrade,” Florio said. “(Coincidentally, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and Stafford worked together for a year in L.A. And they both won a Super Bowl ring for their efforts.)”

Sam Darnold has done everything the Vikings could possibly hope so, and with getting star tight end T.J. Hockenson healthy, Darnold will have yet another weapon at his disposal.

One year later: Looking back on the T.J. Hockenson trade

One year after the Vikings traded for T.J. Hockenson, how does that move look today?

The Minnesota Vikings were 7-1 at the trade deadline in 2022 but needed something on offense to keep the momentum going. They chose to upgrade their passing game in a major way by trading with the Detroit Lions for tight end T.J. Hockenson.

The Lions weren’t in a great spot at the trade deadline last year sitting at 1-6 on the season. They were in positions to be sellers and move on from a player that didn’t factor into their long-term plans.

After dealing with each other during the 2022 NFL draft, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Lions general manager Brad Holmes struck another deal to sent the former Iowa Hawkeye to Minnesota.

Exactly one year later, how does the trade look for both sides? Let’s break it down from all angles from on-field play to assets acquired.

Vikings trade Ezra Cleveland to the Jaguars

The Vikings made another trade, sending Cleveland to the Jaguars

The Minnesota Vikings have traded Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The news was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The trade compensation isn’t the greatest return for the Vikings. They got just a sixth-round pick back from the Jaguars. Considering how well Cleveland has played this season and his ability to potentially play at tackle, it’s very low.

PFF grades the former second-round pick Cleveland really well. He ranks as the eighth overall guard grade, 12th in pass blocking grade and 10th in run blocking grade.

The Vikings have Dalton Risner on the roster right now to take Cleveland’s place and he’s been more than adequate in the process.

Compensation in Josh Dobbs trade revealed

It’s a low level pick swap for the Vikings trading for Josh Dobbs

The Minnesota Vikings traded for former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs earlier today, and now we know the compensation. According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Josina Anderson, and others, the compensation was a low-level pick swap.

Reports are surfacing that the Vikings are sending a sixth-round pick to the Cardinals in exchange for Dobbs and a seventh rounder. Schefter has gone on to report that their are conditions involved in the trade that could escalate the seventh round selection to a sixth, though no specific details are available at this time.

It is unlikely that Dobbs starts this Sunday, given the short amount of time he would have to get integrated into the team. However, Dobbs will likely be worked into the team in short order, given the move to go get him. It’s a move that carries very little risk, and could bring a high reward if Dobbs is able to keep the Vikings rolling.

Vikings trade for Cardinals QB Josh Dobbs

The Vikings added depth to their quarterback room by acquiring Josh Dobbs

In wake of the Kirk Cousins’ torn Achilles tendon, the Minnesota Vikings have acquired a quarterback at the trade deadline.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Vikings have traded for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs. At the time of this writing, the trade cost has not been confirmed.

Dobbs started the first eight games for the Cardinals this season. He has a 1-7 record, but has kept them competitive while they waited for Kyler Murray to get healthy.

So far this season, Dobbs has completed 62.8% of his passes for 1,569 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions while also rushing for 258 yards and three touchdowns.

The Vikings needed to add some depth to their quarterback room with the injury to Cousins and they got that with Dobbs.

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Fowler: Almost no chance Danielle Hunter gets traded

It looks like Hunter will be with the Vikings after the trade deadline

The Minnesota Vikings have been rumored to be selling at the deadline ever since losing to the Los Angeles Chargers 28-24 in week three. The main player involved in those discussions was outside linebacker Danielle Hunter.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there is “almost no chance” that Hunter will get traded at the trade deadline on Tuesday.

The Vikings are in a really interesting spot for the 2023 season. Sitting at 4-4, they were back in position for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, losing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon put a wrench into things.

The Vikings competitive rebuild matra doesn’t jive with trading away one of your best players, even if he is on an expiring contract. Hunter may hit the open market, but the Vikings are likely going to be active in trying to re-sign him.

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Albert Breer thinks Vikings will still be sellers at NFL trade deadline

The Vikings still being sellers at the deadline is something the national media keeps running with

The Minnesota Vikings have won two straight and are currently in the last NFC playoff spot, but that doesn’t change their position as sellers at the NFL trade deadline – at least according to one NFL analyst. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says that even with a win on Sunday against the Packers, he doesn’t expect the Vikings to change their presumed course for this season.

Breer points out that this year was always set up to be a “reset year” with the team taking on millions in dead cap and moving on from established veterans like Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen. Breer goes on to mention that this likely means the Vikings would still be listening to offers for their premier bargaining chip – edge rusher Danielle Hunter.

Hunter is currently having one of the best seasons of his career, leading the league in both sacks and tackles for loss. However, Breer cautions that it may be harder to move Hunter, as he will need a new contract and won’t come cheap.

Breer also notes that the asking price has likely gone up, saying that at one point a deal would have likely been done for only a third-round pick, but that’s likely not the case anymore.

Hunter isn’t the only Vikings player that teams may be interested in at the NFL trade deadline, either, according to Breer. He goes on to mention that Jordan Hicks could make a nice addition to any team who is looking for a leader in their linebacker corps.

Breer is less bullish on the prospect of the Vikings moving Kirk Cousins – who does have a no-trade clause – saying that he would be “stunned” if they entertained moving Cousins “at this point”.

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5 Moneyball trades Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can make

These players are ones that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could be willing to trade for with a Moneyball approach

The trade deadline is coming up and the Minnesota Vikings have likely made themselves buyers with a 22-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

It’s quite simple for the Vikings. They have played really well against quality opponents all season, but haven’t been able to finish the job. Why haven’t they been able to finish games? Lack of discipline, mainly with ball control.

The Vikings have turned it over 14 times this season while forcing just nine themselves with six of them coming in their last two games and seven of them forced in their three wins.

They are currently just 0.5 games out of a wild card spot and two games out of the NFC North division lead with five of their six division games still left to play.

Earlier this week, I explored players that the Vikings could target that could help the team immediately and in the future. Most of those were established players that would cost significant draft capital

However, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has shown a willingness to gamble on talent and upside with the use of a Moneyball approach. He did so with Jalen Reagor and Ross Blacklock. I identified five players the Vikings could target to use the same philosophy.

8 players the Vikings should trade for at the trade deadline

The Vikings could end up being buyers at the trade deadline and there are plenty of targets that could help them this season and beyond

The Minnesota Vikings not only saved their season by winning against the San Francisco 49ers 22-17 on Monday night, but they arguably changed their strategy at the trade deadline.

After a 1-4 start, the Vikings were rumored to trade multiple players, most notably Danielle Hunter. In the last year of his contract, it’s easy to see why the Vikings might be willing to trade him, but they aren’t the kind of team to just sell off parts when they have a chance to make a run.

This season, the Vikings have played better than their record indicates. They are 16th in overall DVOA while being 14th on offense and 15th on defense. That’s a massive improvement over last season and you can see i in the on field product.

The Vikings make an aggressive move last year in acquiring T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline with the idea of signing him to be a pillar of the Vikings’ future. Could they try that again this season? There are players available that fit the bill, along with others that would be inexpensive one year rentals

The team really has only one area they need is up front on defense. The defensive line is undermanned and the pass rush needs depth with Marcus Davenport being unreliable so far this season.

Even with Hunter on the team, he can’t rush the passer by himself. Getting him a long-term running mate or replacing him long-term needs to be a priority and there are options in the trade market to do just that.

Who could the Vikings target at the trade deadline to bolster their team for the rest of the season and beyond? We identified eight players the Vikings could potentially make a move for.

5 reasons the Vikings should trade Danielle Hunter

Tyler Forness explored five reasons why it makes sense to trade Danielle Hunter

The Minnesota Vikings are in quite an interesting team this season.

Going from a 13-4 division title-winning 2022 team to a paltry 2-4 start is a frustrating one for both the team and the fanbase. It also has many claiming the Vikings need to go into a full rebuild.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has explicitly said that the Vikings will not tank, but will he concede that the Vikings aren’t going to do anything this season and try to collect assets for the future?

The asset that everyone is talking about is outside linebacker Danielle Hunter. Being on the final year of his contract, he is a player that could be moved and one that a team would be intrigued to trade for.

At just 29 years old, Hunter still has a lot to bring to the table. Whether you believe it’s a smart move or not, I took a look at five reasons that a trade makes sense.