4 Realistic Trade Candidates for the Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings could become buyers at the NFL’s trade deadline on Election Day, showcasing a nifty 5-0 record through five games.
4 Realistic Trade Candidates for the Vikings
The club doesn’t have oodles of 2025 draft capital to conduct trades, but the 2026 cabinet is untouched.
So, these are four realistic candidates for the purple team, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = the almighty target).
4. Adam Thielen (CAR, WR)
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.
Thielen injured his hamstring a couple of weeks ago and is currently mending. When he returns in a few weeks — conveniently around the trade deadline — his team could be in full selling mode.
Minnesota could acquire Thielen for a 7th-Rounder and fold him into the offense as the WR3. Then, Thielen could be a part of the impending playoff push. It kind of feels like he deserves it.
No Vikings fan would bemoan the trade. Not a single one.
Theoretical Trade Price: Conditional 7th-Rounder
3. Treylon Burks (TEN, WR)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver T. Burks (16) takes the field to face the Cincinnati Bengals at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Nfl Cincinnati Bengals At Tennessee Titans. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK.
Before the world figured out that Jalen Nailor was pretty decent, Burks-to-Vikings acted as a summer trade theory. Nothing materialized.
In 2024, Burks has been targeted 7 times in 4 games, so the Titans still aren’t using him. Not long ago, Burks was a 2nd-Round pick stuffed to the gills with potential. If the Vikings were interested, he could probably be acquired for a 7th-Round pick — like Thielen.
And why not? He’s not really playing in Tennessee.
Theoretical Trade Price: Conditional 7th-Rounder
2. Miles Sanders (CAR, RB)
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.
His contract is a bit expensive, but for RB depth, Sanders might be worth it.
In Carolina, rookie standout Jonathon Brooks will be healed from injury soon, so Sanders makes the most sense via trade — and can probably get got for a conditional 6th-Round pick. Such trades are common in the NFL.
The only problem here is Sanders’ price tag. He’s the 16th highest-paid running back in the NFL.
Theoretical Trade Price: 2026 6th-Rounder
1. Jonathan Jones (NE, CB)
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
VikingsTerritory’s Josh Frey recently wrote about a hypothetical Jones trade: “Jonathan Jones has a Brian Flores connection and plenty of playoff experience in New England. Now at 31 years old, he likely isn’t part of the future plans for the Patriots, and now could be the time to deal the veteran CB. Why not to a sudden Super Bowl contender so Jones can chase one more ring?”
The Brian Flores connection is the golden ticket here. If the Vikings want CB depth, this is the guy. The Patriots could hold some semblance of a fire sale near the end of the month.
Theoretical Trade Price: 2025 6th-Rounder
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
