Minnesota Vikings Trade Deadline Preview: Nolan Teasley’s path to glory is not the one you’re expecting
We are all expecting the Minnesota Vikings to be aggressive at the trade deadline, and this is the path that is most ideal.
The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching, and the Minnesota Vikings are likely to be aggressive. General manager Nolan Teasley comes from an organization that isn’t afraid to be aggressive, and that’s likely to happen this seaosn with the Vikings.
Even though it’s likely he will be aggressive, what path will he take? Is there an ideal scenario that can help the Vikings out in both the short and long-term? I think I found the ideal pathway to move forward, while also attacking the future head on. This is the “path to glory” for Teasley and the Vikings.
Trade for Colts DT DeForest Buckner
Defensive line isn’t the biggest need across the board for the Vikings, and I understand why many believe that targeting a higher-profile left guard, running back, or tight end is a better option. Even so, DeForest Buckner would be my No. 1 option at the trade deadline.
First off, you can always use more defensive line help. Every Super Bowl winner from the past decade has either had an alpha like Aaron Donald or a very deep pass rush room. Right now, the Vikings don’t truly have either. Now, Dallas Turner could be that alpha, but he isn’t there yet. The addition of Buckner could be a huge addition. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2020 and second-team in 2019. In his career, Buckner has 75.5 sacks and already has 4.0 this season.
Now, why would the Vikings make the move? He’s a good pass rusher still, and could maybe be had for a third-round pick, plus another on day three. He wouldn’t just give the Vikings a player who could be impactful as a rusher, but also someone who could mentor Caleb Banks.
There aren’t many defensive linemen built like Banks, but Bucker certainly is one. They are eerily similar in a lot of ways, from height to arm length and their explosiveness. While his RAS is lower than Banks, it’s because he was graded as a DE rather than a DT.
One thing the Seahawks did was bring in players with an in-season trade as a means to improve the roster long-term. That is exactly what the Vikings could do here. While Buckner isn’t going to be an elite player long-term, he can be an invaluable asset for the next few years, helping Banks learn how to better use his frame to be a penetrator on the interior.
Banks already has the goods to make it happen, and he’s flashed it.
Acquiring him will likely cost a minimal price as well, being on an expiring contract. If the Vikings give up a third-round pick, likely the one from the Eagles, it could probably get it done. Will Teasley be able to make it happen? Only time will tell.
Trade for Eagles OL Tyler Steen
This is where many will call for the Vikings to trade for Quenton Nelson. Obviously, he would be the top possible option, and would be great to add to an already good offensive line. It would also be a difficult ask for the Colts to trade him, as he’s a franchise cornerstone.
With Nelson possibly being a more difficult ask, what other options could be on the market? The Eagles are now 2-4 and, with Jalen Hurts out for at least three more weeks and possibly longer with blood clots, they could be in sell mode.
Steen was a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft who has been a starter for the majority of his time in Philadelphia, including starting every game at right guard this season. He has also played tackle in his past, as he started at left tackle for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2022.
This is the kind of addition that could be good for the Vikings. He would come at a minimal cost of a prorated $3.4 million and can provide flexibility as a sixth offensive lineman while being key Joe Huber insurance. It’s exactly what you want to have on the roster for the long haul, and he could even be a better option than Huber.
Trade for Buccaneers TE Payne Durham
One area the Vikings are likely to address is tight end. T.J. Hockenson is plenty good enough to be the starting tight end, but there are real concerns about who is the No. 2. Josh Oliver could return at the end of this season for a playoff run after suffering a torn biceps, but that’s far from a guarantee.
Luckily for the Vikings, there are some intriguing options for a blocking tight end. Payne Durham was a fifth-round pick in 2023 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, which makes him a perfect trade candidate. He would slide in as the blocking tight end for the short-term and potentially be a TE3 long-term.
Where does this leave the Vikings?
After all of these moves, the Vikings still have seven 2027 NFL Draft picks, with the possibility of adding an eighth with a fifth or sixth-round compensatory selection due to the loss of Jalen Nailor.
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 5th
- 5th (via NYG)
- 6th (via NYJ)
- 7th (via TB)
This is a balanced approach to attacking this season head-on with a Super Bowl in mind, while also not sacrificing the future. If it works, the Vikings could finally be celebrating, and even if it doesn’t, the future is still bright.
