The Minnesota Vikings are one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season at 5-0, and it’s on the backs of a historic defense. Brian Flores’ unit is trending toward being one of the best in NFL history, up there with the likes of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens and 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Where they struggle right now is on offense, but Kyler Murray is slowly but surely improving under center. If the offense elevates to league average or better, this Vikings team could get really scary for opponents down the line.

The next part of the NFL schedule that the Vikings need to prioritize is the trade deadline. Over the past few years, the Vikings have struck trades at the deadline to improve their roster.

• 2022: TE T.J. Hockenson
• 2023: QB Josh Dobbs
• 2024: LT Cam Robinson

Yes, those were with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as the general manager, but Nolan Teasley gives off the impression that he’s aggressive in his own right. One or more trades are likely on the horizon for the Vikings, but what should they target? I ranked the positions I think they should go after

5. Safety

One interesting thing about the Vikings’ defense is how inconsistent the secondary has been. Josh Metellus has been playing a role that hasn’t been ideal, and Harrison Smith has been ramping up. Plus, Theo Jackson is playing a larger role on the unit, which is far from ideal.

If the Vikings were going to add a player in the secondary, communication is paramount. It’s very difficult to teach the defense. One player who could be available for a trade is Cam Bynum, who was with the Vikings from 2021-2024. He could theoretically take over for Smith next year on the third year of his contract, and the learning curve wouldn’t be very high.

4. Running back

This has been the most popular option for the Vikings to target, mainly because of the Jordan Mason injury. With him coming back after the bye week, that need is lessened. Now, is that need a no? Absolutely not, but the Vikings don’t need to prioritize it with a starting-level back, because it’s not a dire need.

Finding an RB3 who can be useful on passing downs and taking on an RB2 role with a potential injury is a smart move for the Vikings, especially with Aaron Jones’ history. There are some interesting options out there.

3. Wide receiver

This is already a position where the Vikings are strong at the top, but the depth has a lot of concerns. Jauan Jennings is already rumored to being on the trade block, and neither Tai Felton, nor Myles Proce have stood out positively. You can argue that all three have been a net negative at wide receiver, even though Price has been great as a returner.

It feels weird that wide receiver is a need for this team, but with injuries keeping Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson out of significant portions of the season thus far, depth at the position is key to finding success. It would be tough for the Vikings to find someone who could contribute right away, but there are a couple of intriguing options.

2. Offensive line

Going into the season, there were questions about the depth of the offensive line. The top interior option was Joe Huber, who had started one game in 2025 as a UDFA, and we didn’t know how well that would translate once he had to play on Sundays. Turns out, he’s been pretty good, so much so that discussions have begun about him being a starter long-term.

Even so, Donovan Jackson is likely out for the season, and that creates potential for the offensive line to become a disaster with one more injury. We already saw what could happen with both Jackson and Christian Darrisaw being out. I doubt the Vikings target a starter, but adding a swing player who would be an upgrade over their depth makes a lot of sense.

1. Pass rusher

It may feel weird to have this position at the top, but it shouldn’t be. If you want to make a run at a Super Bowl, one of the biggest keys to having a roster to do so is having a great pass rush. Now, the Vikings currently have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, but are they going to be able to consistently win 1-v-1 once they get into the playoffs? Even if they do, having depth and being able to rotate guys in and out is paramount.

Looking at the last decade plus of Super Bowl winners, they have all had one of the following:

• Deep rotation of pas rushers
• An alpha (ie: Aaron Donald)

Right now, there aren’t a ton of sellers, but that number could rise over the next few weeks with more teams losing. Keep an eye out for the Vikings looking for a mercenary pass rusher to pair with Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jalen Redmond.