4 “Dream Trade” Candidates for the Vikings

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) is introduced before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images. The Minnesota Vikings could become buyers at the NFL’s trade deadline in 3.5 weeks, owning an impeccable 5-0 record through five games. 4 “Dream Trade” Candidates for the Vikings The club doesn’t have too much 2025 draft capital to swing trades, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. So, these are four “dream trade” candidates for the purple team, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = the almighty target). Note: Not all these players are realistically on the trade block, but it’s not absolutely absurd that the Vikings could deal for them. 4. Amari Cooper (CLE, WR) Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports. Cooper is a five-time Pro Bowler and would fit brilliantly in the Vikings’ usually-pass-happy offense. He’s 32 and has tabulated 9,964 receiving yards in his career, plus 62 touchdowns. In 2023, he banked 1,250 receiving yards, so it’s not like Minnesota would be getting a past-his-prime dud. The guy is still the real deal. If the Browns continue to falter, Cooper could be on the trade block within the next 3.5 weeks. And adding him to the Vikings’ roster could make the offense incomprehensibly dangerous. Theoretical Trade Price: 2025 5th-Rounder 3. Javonte Williams (DEN, RB) Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports If Minnesota is serious about contending for a Super Bowl, it must have a healthy Aaron Jones running the ball at all times. Well, Jones got injured last weekend in London, creating the need for a possible contingency plan at running back. Denver employs Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson, Tyler Badie, and Audric Estime at the position. Perhaps Williams could be attainable via trade if the Broncos love their other four runners. Theoretical Trade Price: 2025 5th-Rounder 2. Travis Etienne (JAX, RB) Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports. Tank Bigbsy has emerged in Jacksonville as a productive running back, and per some Jaguars-themed media, Etienne could be expendable. There’s a world where Bigsby could be showcased as an RB1 while Etienne was traded for draft capital. The Vikings could pounce on Etienne, making him a 1B to Aaron Jones’ 1A, and plan for Jones’ afterlife, which could arrive as early as 2025. Etienne is 25 and has averaged five yards per touch since entering the NFL in 2021. Theoretical Trade Price: 2026 4th-Rounder 1. Dexter Lawrence (NYG, DT) Julian Guadalupe-NorthJersey.com. The Giants suddenly have two wins after the world decided they were horrendously bad post-Week 1. They may not hold a fire sale after all. However, for a couple of weeks, Vikings fans have pondered a Dexter Lawrence addition to the roster via trade, even if the price tag was expensive. Some will hold out hope that New York loses its next two games and decides it’s a seller before the November 5th trade deadline. Lawrence would be worth next year’s 1st-Rounder. He’s that fantastic. Theoretical Trade Price: 2025 1st-Round + 2026 4th-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.