The Minnesota Vikings are currently in the seventh playoff spot in the NFC ahead of Sunday’s game against the Packers, but according to SI’s Albert Breer, they could still be sellers ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Breer’s theory came in his latest notebook where he listed the Vikings along with the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots as potential sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
Breer believes that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell had this year earmarked as a reset year for the Vikings when they were hired in February of 2022 and that those plans were put into action when they took on $30 million worth of dead money while cutting Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen and Eric Kendricks last offseason.
While Breer notes that Monday’s win over the San Francisco 49ers may have prevented a full-blown fire sale and that he would be “stunned” if Kirk Cousins were to be traded, the Vikings could still look to move edge rusher Danielle Hunter and linebacker Jordan Hicks.
Hunter is in the final year of his contract and is due the prorated $10 million remaining on a one-year, $20 million contract signed during training camp. While Breer believed the Vikings were seeking a third-round pick last summer, he also thinks Hunter’s performance this season– which includes an NFL-leading nine sacks – has increased the asking price even with the possibility that he could be a rental or require a lucrative contract.
“[Hunter]…will be expensive for anyone to re-sign,” Breer wrote. “Which means the reality for any team trading for him is that you’re either getting a rental or giving up draft capital and a monster contract at once. But he’s a really good player and could be worth it for someone.”
Meanwhile, Hicks is also in the final year of his contract and is enjoying a bounce-back year after a disappointing first season with the Vikings. Breer listed the Philadelphia Eagles as a potential team to watch for Hicks, who ranks 13th in Pro Football Focus’s linebacker grades.
The Vikings are 3-4 heading into Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field and two games back of the Detroit Lions for first place in the NFC North.
