The Minnesota Vikings are currently tied with the Kansas City Chiefs as the only undefeated teams across the National Football League. Kevin O’Connell has his team humming through the first five weeks of the season. As they come out of the bye, they will look to keep that momentum going. They could also add reinforcements prior to the trade deadline.
Trade deadline represents opportunity for Minnesota Vikings
Traditionally the NFL trade deadline has often been something of a dud. The 17-game season started during the 2021 schedule, but the trade deadline remained in place on the Tuesday after Week 8. This year the trade deadline has been pushed to Week 9. It falls on election day, November 5th. At 5-0, and with three more games prior to that date, the Vikings can add talent. How aggressive they get remains to be seen, but The Athletic’s Alec Lewis shared his thoughts.
“By then, the health of the roster will probably matter integrally to the decision-making. Besides Aaron Jones, who O’Connell said Tuesday is “week to week” with a hip injury, the roster is mostly healthy. And the health will improve with the eventual returns of tight end T.J. Hockenson and guard Dalton Risner. During general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s tenure, he has not let a trade deadline go by without making a move. In 2022, the Vikings swung big for Hockenson. Last year, they fortified their quarterback position with Josh Dobbs. We should expect something. The question is how aggressive they’ll get with a minimal bundle of picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Losing any key defensive contributor could lead to some tire-kicking, and Jones’ health is another spot to watch. Broadly, though, the staff is satisfied with the roster depth.”
Alec Lewis on the Vikings trade deadline possibilities (The Athletic)
As Lewis points out, the running back situation could turn dire if Jones is to miss substantial time. Ty Chandler is the only other consistent back on the roster, and that isn’t ideal depth for the stretch run. Beyond that though, the Vikings adding would be a boost because they can, rather than because they need to.
This is a situation the Vikings weren’t supposed to be in, but it’s one they have to be incredibly happy about experiencing.
Vikings offseason sets up opportunity to utilize the trade deadline
It’s because of how the Minnesota Vikings went about their offseason that they even have an opportunity to explore adding talent. By not paying the freight for Kirk Cousins or Danielle Hunter, the organization afforded themselves breathing room under the salary cap. That was evident in signing Stephon Gilmore, and it could again play out following Week 9.
Right now the Vikings have a relatively healthy roster, and they are competing at an incredibly high level. They don’t have to make a reactionary addition like they did last season with Josh Dobbs. Instead, adding talent to bolster the overall strength and depth of the roster makes sense. There will be multiple names available, and Minnesota can conceivably be in on whomever they deem a fit.
It’s pretty shocking to think that O’Connell’s offense would add someone like Amari Cooper. The wide receiver position is already impressive, but being able to pull off that sort of move is a testament to the decisions made thus far.
