“Dream Trade” for Vikings May Not Be Dead

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Two weeks ago, the New York Giants owned a 2-3 record after rattling off a couple of season-saving wins.

“Dream Trade” for Vikings May Not Be Dead

Now, New York is 2-5 and could morph into a seller by the NFL’s trade deadline on November 5th. The Giants have a 5.6% chance of reaching the postseason heading into Week 8 — also known as a death sentence.

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Not long ago, it seemed like a longshot that New York would trade its best player, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Yet, after a two-game skid and a deathly playoff prognosis, the franchise could change its tune within the next 14 days.

And per Lawrence’s lips, he’s tired of losing. “Personally, I’m pissed because I hate losing with a passion. I take that hard, losing — I really don’t like it. That’s something that I’m not going to keep accepting. I want to see this team grow and be as good as we are throughout the week in practice,” Lawrence told reporters following his team’s most recent loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. New York lost 28-3 on Sunday, an anemic showing against a primary foe.

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Lawrence added, “Every loss hurts. I’m pissed, but we just have to find a way to play better as a group. I think that is the biggest thing that we have to play better as a group. I’m not getting no petty wins. Whoever won on the scoreboard, that’s the game. I don’t give a damn about a petty win.”

For now, the Vikings’ defense ranks first in the NFL per DVOA and EPA/Play through seven weeks. Outwardly, Brian Flores’ group may not seem to need that much assistance. And make no mistake — Lawrence would be the almighty assistance.

Julian Guadalupe-NorthJersey.com.

However, when Minnesota kicked off the season, most assumed the 2025 1st-Round draft pick would fall somewhere between Nos. 1 and 15 or so. Now, that pick is trending somewhere in the 20s, so a theoretical deal involving it and Lawrence, for example, seems logical.

It’s all about whether New York would actually offload Lawrence, who is just 26 years old.

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Some notable Vikings-themed voices have outlandish ideas for Lawrence’s trade price. SKOR North’s Judd Zulgad said this week, “The Vikings should trade their 2025 1st-round pick, their 2026 1st-round pick, and a 2026 3rd-round pick for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence.”

More realistically, if Lawrence were for sale in the first place, Minnesota could obtain his services for a 2025 1st-Rounder and 2026 mid-Rounder.

It’s all about the Giants’ season henceforth and their mentality. They’re 2-5, going nowhere fast, and the Vikings could be interested in Lawrence if New York sells to the highest bidder.

Lawrence sounds like a guy who wouldn’t mind a change of scenery.

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 Vikings 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.