Minnesota Vikings could strike a trade during training camp, and these players could be Nolan Teasley’s targets
New general manager Nolan Teasley’s plans are currently unknown, and they could result in a bunch of trades.
Training camp is finally here for the Minnesota Vikings, with rookies and quarterbacks set to report on July 26 and veterans arriving on July 28. Every year, the Vikings seem to make a trade around this time, whether it’s a late-round pick swap to send a player out or acquire one. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was active in those types of deals. We don’t know what new general manager Nolan Teasley will look like in those situations yet, including the dynamic with head coach Kevin O’Connell, but we cannot rule out the possibility that somebody gets moved.
S Theo Jackson
As we discussed previously, Theo Jackson could be out of a starting job. One of the big reasons a trade makes sense is the drafting of Jakobe Thomas, along with Jacob Thomas, the undrafted free agent out of James Madison who appears to be a talented option.
Jackson didn’t simply lose his job to injury management or end-of-season roster experimentation. He got benched because he was playing poorly. He was rough for multiple weeks leading up to that Green Bay Packers game, then sat for three weeks while Jay Ward took over and played relatively well. Ward still has some issues with tackling inconsistency, but from a talent perspective, he has it, and he brings the versatility to play a little cornerback as well.
Jackson only returned because Josh Metellus suffered a torn labrum and was shut down after the Dallas game. He would have kept playing if the Vikings were in the playoff hunt because a torn labrum is mainly about pain management, a cartilage injury that you can work through.
The salary cap math makes this a straightforward idea. Cutting Jackson saves only $390k. Trading him saves about $1.6 million, even with $1 million in dead cap this year and $1 million next year. For a player who probably won’t see much playing time, that’s significant savings. Finding a trade partner shouldn’t be difficult. Teams will see he’s on his way out, offer a sixth- or seventh-round pick swap, and the deal could get done.
Ivan Pace Jr.’s limitations could push him out
The next name is a fan favorite: inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. When Minnesota signed him as a UDFA in the 2023 draft class, it was a great story. He was a top-116 player on the consensus board. The problem is his skill set is too specialized for what Brian Flores’ defense demands.
If you want Pace to shoot a gap, occupy a blocker, duck under as a penetrator in the run game, or blitz as a pass rusher, he’s excellent at all of those. He’s a linear mover who excels going straight ahead. But Flores’ scheme requires well-rounded linebackers who can hold up in coverage and move laterally. That’s why Eric Wilson replaced Pace once Blake Cashman returned from a four-game absence with a pulled hamstring, relegating Pace to spot duty and special teams.
Pace is making $3.52 million in the final year of team control. Nobody wanted to tender him as a restricted free agent, and it’s hard to blame them for a player this specialized. If someone like Jacob Roberts from the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL showcases special teams ability during camp, we could be saying goodbye to Pace.
QB J.J. McCarthy or QB Kyler Murray
The quarterback position is where things get fascinating. Either Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy could be traded, depending on who loses the competition.
If Murray loses the job, my expectation is he will ask for a trade. He needs a good year to prove he can still cash in on another big contract. Nobody is paying him $40 million or $50 million a year without seeing it on the field. If he can’t showcase why he was taken first overall, the market dries up. He’s not going to sit on the bench, and coach Kevin O’Connell has made it clear he wants to give his starting quarterback a runway without looking over his shoulder.
If McCarthy loses? That raises different questions. With Teasley replacing Adofo-Mensah, the front office put so much emphasis on pinning the McCarthy pick on the previous regime that the slate is essentially clean. If Teasley wants to move on, he can. A team that loses its quarterback to injury mid-season could come calling. Nobody thought Teddy Bridgewater was going to get hurt, and the Vikings ended up trading first- and fourth-round picks for Sam Bradford. McCarthy wouldn’t command that price, but he’s still 23 years old, still impressionable, and still young enough that a new organization could develop him.
If Murray wins the starting job, McCarthy’s time in Minnesota is likely finished. The smartest play for both sides would be to get something in return rather than let it linger.