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Should The Vikings Trade to fix their Weak Positions Before The Deadline?


Robb_K

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Now that they're 5-0, with a good possibility of being 7-1 after 8 Games (at The Trade Deadline), should they give up future assets to bolster their depth and improve their quality of starters at their currently weakest link positions, such as CB, DT, OG, and RB?  I'm not implying that they should automatically trade away their next 2 1st Round draft choices to get  Top 5 or Top 10 players at DT or CB for their 1st Rounders in 2025 and 2026, and an excellent level starter RB for a 2nd Rounder.  I think they shouldn't let this year's chance to compete for The NFC's No. 1 Seed, or, at least, winning The NFC North.  With their relatively easy remainder of schedule, and already garnered 5 wins, and the way their defence is playing, I think that placing at least a solid, still reasonably high-quality veteran at CB and G, and also picking up a less costly solid veteran DT and decent level back-up running back to lighten Aaron Jones' play load, or replace him as The #1, if he gets injured would be worthwhile doing.  That is based on the likelihood that with their already banked 5 wins and their remaining schedule, they are likely to have a moderately to very late draft position next draft, and given all the Cap room they'll have for 2025 and 2026, they'll be able to fill remaining holes, and likely have good won-lost records in both seasons.

I think they should go all in, and start their deep playoff run window a year earlier than J.J. McCarthy's debut.

 

I'm curious to see what everybody else here thinks they should do.

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If there were some cheap depth pieces, I would be interested. I wouldn't want to pull in a defensive starter in the middle of the season unless it was absolutely needed.  There's great chemistry on the defense now.

On offense, it depends on Jones' health.  If he's back and near 100% by week 7 or 8, than Chandler and Gaskins giving him rest works.  If he's going to be on the shelf longer, than a RB would be needed.  But that depends on who is available. He would have to be an upgrade over Chandler. 

As for RG, I would love to upgrade.  But, it's really not likely that a competent guard will become available. 

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1 hour ago, Robb_K said:

Now that they're 5-0, with a good possibility of being 7-1 after 8 Games (at The Trade Deadline), should they give up future assets to bolster their depth and improve their quality of starters...

sorry, but i sort of stopped here.

what future assets?


next year's draft is a soft one, where several analysts are writing there are not 30 players worthy of a 1st round pick. we'll be cash heavy, so will be investing in the free agent market presumably, which Kwesi hit multiple home runs with this year already.

LKC.

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I think that even if Jones returns for the Detroit game, he'll be burnt out later in the season if he's used so much as we've used him so far, and he has a history of being injured often.  So I think The Vikings should pick up another RB within the next few days so he can learn enough plays to, at least be used on routine, straight ahead short-yardage plays, because Jones could possibly miss the next game, or two.  I think they should also pick up another CB, especially because Evans has regressed, and has played really poorly, and Griffin and Gilmore are on the old side, and likely will need more rest as we go through the season.  Also, it might help to get a decent RG and DT.   17 games is a long season, and players need more rest as we go into the later stages, and injuries occur.  This team should be fighting for this Division's lead, and probably even The NFC top 2 seeds.  I'd hate for them to lose that opportunity because of not having enough quality depth, or a couple weak starter positions that are continually attacked by opponents to take advantage of those weaknesses.

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We have no draft assets to trade, and no players we should trade away. 

We could trade conditional 7th in 2026, but can we acquire players with that that help us right now? Do we have the cap space to acquire high impact players that may be cap casualties and come at a low price due to their cap hit?

I don't think so.

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1 hour ago, Robb_K said:

I think that even if Jones returns for the Detroit game, he'll be burnt out later in the season if he's used so much as we've used him so far, and he has a history of being injured often.  So I think The Vikings should pick up another RB within the next few days so he can learn enough plays to, at least be used on routine, straight ahead short-yardage plays, because Jones could possibly miss the next game, or two.  I think they should also pick up another CB, especially because Evans has regressed, and has played really poorly, and Griffin and Gilmore are on the old side, and likely will need more rest as we go through the season.  Also, it might help to get a decent RG and DT.   17 games is a long season, and players need more rest as we go into the later stages, and injuries occur.  This team should be fighting for this Division's lead, and probably even The NFC top 2 seeds.  I'd hate for them to lose that opportunity because of not having enough quality depth, or a couple weak starter positions that are continually attacked by opponents to take advantage of those weaknesses.

Which assets do you propose using to trade for these players? They have a 1st, two 5ths, and a 7th available to trade before the deadline. Compensatory picks won't be awarded until after the season. It's much more difficult to move picks two drafts from now. I don't think there's any street FAs that would be better than players they have on the roster right now. They have rotational depth at DT, and Risner is coming back from IR as a backup IOL. At a certain point you have to trust your depth, which has not been a problem to this point.

If I had to put odds on it, I  would say its most likely that they stand pat, followed by making a big swing for a core piece/difference maker, and almost no shot that they end up moving their limited late round draft capital for depth.

Edited by JDBrocks
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5 hours ago, JDBrocks said:

Which assets do you propose using to trade for these players? They have a 1st, two 5ths, and a 7th available to trade before the deadline. Compensatory picks won't be awarded until after the season. It's much more difficult to move picks two drafts from now. I don't think there's any street FAs that would be better than players they have on the roster right now. They have rotational depth at DT, and Risner is coming back from IR as a backup IOL. At a certain point you have to trust your depth, which has not been a problem to this point.

If I had to put odds on it, I  would say its most likely that they stand pat, followed by making a big swing for a core piece/difference maker, and almost no shot that they end up moving their limited late round draft capital for depth.

Risner is NOT a decently-rounded guard, because he useless in the running game style The Vikings use.  He is very stationary , and so can do a good job of pass blocking, but he can't break out forward quickly enough to be any help blocking past the line of scrimmage.  The Vikings' run game not doing well, as it is, would be even worse with Risner back in as a starter at RG instead of Ingram, or even as a general guard injury replacement.  Personally, I think The Vikings should also obtain a better starting RG, as well as another better-quality back-up to Jones than Chandler.  And they should also get a better CB backup to Griffin or Gilmore than Akayleb Evans.  Surely one of Griffin, Gilmore, or Murphy will be hurt and out for a  few games or more before the season is over.  Opponents targeting Evans or Moreau could possibly mean the difference between winning or losing one or two games or more IF both Griffin and Gilmore are out at the same time.

This would require giving up their 2025 1st Rounder for one core piece/difference maker (either CB, or DT) and some combination of 2026 2nd to 5th Round choices with needed slight overpay(in multiple later middle-rounders) to get teams to accept 2026 choices for the G, either DT or CB (the one not acquired using the 2025 1st Rounder), and for RB(no higher than 3rd Rounder). The Vikings shouldn't let this season's unusual opportunity pass by them without their jumping on it.  I know it may not be possible to improve all 4 of these positions, but they should try the best they can without wasting future assets on marginal improvement that won't be enough to make the difference in their playoff seeding or winning their division.  I trust Kwesi's making the right decision, based on KOC's and Flores' recommendations on which available players would add the needed quality of upgrades without being likely to waste the future assets by not being enough of an upgrade to make that needed difference.

 

Edited by Robb_K
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I don't think they should be going all out shopping but they should keep their options open if someone gets traded for peanuts or if there is an injury.  If they truly don't trust Chandler, there probably should be looking for a running back but I don't think that would cost a ton

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28 minutes ago, vikesfan89 said:

I don't think they should be going all out shopping but they should keep their options open if someone gets traded for peanuts or if there is an injury.  If they truly don't trust Chandler, there probably should be looking for a running back but I don't think that would cost a ton

Hell, if you just want some depth, both Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray are available off the street.  😂

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As others have stated, we simply don’t have tradable assets right now. At least nothing that will bring a significant return that would be an “all in” kind of move. We could trade our first for something/someone. But I don’t know who would be available that warrants that price tag. You certainly don’t want to trade a first round pick for a half season rental. So that eliminates a lot of candidates. 

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Usually I'd agree. NFL teams are the most afraid to make deals of any sports league, and so the prices are lower than other leagues, but with what assets? I guess if you can get an elite RG, maybe? But is there one even available? I doubt it. 

This would be an ideal draft to trade out of, given it's perceived weakness, but they just don't have assets....

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