As soon as the clock struck 3 p.m. Wednesday the 2019 contract for cornerback Trae Waynes became fully guaranteed.
The fifth-year pro’s contract is now guaranteed to pay him $9.069 million this season, but which team is paying him might still be up for debate. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Vikings have received calls from teams interested in trading for Waynes.
The #Vikings have received calls from teams interested in trading for former first-round CB Trae Waynes, sources say. His fifth-year option just became fully guaranteed, so Minnesota won’t cut him. But there is interest.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019
CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported during the NFL Combine last month that Minnesota was exploring the idea of trading Waynes, which would save them a big chunk of money in salary cap space, which they don’t have much of.
According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, the Vikings only have $2,951,899 in cap space, most of which they’ll need to sign their draft picks.
Minnesota has tremendous depth at corner with Xavier Rhodes, Mackensie Alexander, Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, Marcus Sherels and Waynes, so trading him for a draft pick, or perhaps offensive line help, makes sense so long as the deal is fair.
The Vikings can also create cap space by releasing or restructuring the contract of defensive end Everson Griffen. It’s been reported that Minnesota has presented him with a restructured offer, so news on that front should break between now and Friday.
