Minnesota Vikings GM Nolan Teasley have major trade assets at their disposal, with some wild valuations
With Nolan Teasley as the new general manager, nobody is safe on the Minnesota Vikings roster. What could certain players be worth?
When you look at everyone on the Minnesota Vikings roster, the only player that feels 100% untouchable is wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The biggest reason for this discussion is the addition of new general manager Nolan Teasley.
With new members of the front office, new ideas and thoughts about each player will change the direction of the franchise. That could mean players end up being traded or at the very least, going on the trade block.
Minnesota Vikings roster has interesting trade values
What are some of the Minnesota Vikings players worth on the trade market? It’s a good exercise to do every so often, and ESPN’s Bill Barnwell did that for all 32 teams. He classified them as players who would fetch:
- Two first-round picks and more
- One first-round pick
- Just under a first-round pick
His valuations are interesting, so I thought it would be fun to look at how mine compare to Barnwell’s.
Two first-round picks and more
Barnwell: WR Justin Jefferson
Forness: WR Justin Jefferson
This is an easy one. Jefferson is arguably the best receiver in the game, and can thrive in any offense. Barnwell acknowledge the production dip, but that wasn’t all his fault.
“He is coming off his worst season as a pro, but I think it seems fair to point at super inconsistent quarterback play as the biggest factor for Jefferson’s dip. We’re now firmly in his peak seasons as a 27-year-old, but if the Vikings ever did move on from their star wide receiver, there would be no shortage of interest in a player who still has to be considered one of the four best wideouts in football.”
One first-round pick
Barnwell: WR Jordan Addison, LG Donovan Jackson
Forness: WR Jordan Addison, LG Donovan Jackson, OT Christian Darrisaw, EDGE Dallas Turner
This is where we have our biggest differences. We agree on both Addison and Jackson, but I think Darrisaw and Turner would both fetch a first-round pick. Barnwell’s reasoning for Darrisaw is rooted in his struggles coming back from injury. Because it was easily explained, someone would get an elite left tackle when healthy, meaning an easy first round pick.
What I really disagree with is Barnwell’s reasoning about Turner.
“Turner unquestionably took a step forward last season while filling in for Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard when they were injured, but his total of eight sacks overstates his impact as a pass rusher. With Greenard going to Philadelphia, Turner will need to create pressures more often to justify the draft capital the Vikings spent to acquire him in 2024.”
This boils down Turner’s massive growth at just 22 years old to numbers on a spreadsheet. He finished with 42 pressures to pair with the 8.5 sacks, held up against the run well, and was strong enough to set the edge without being blown off the ball. Being that he will be 23 years old this season, Turner should easily fetch a first-round pick.
Just under a first-round pick
Barnwell: OT Christian Darrisaw, EDGE Dallas Turner, EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, DT Caleb Banks
Forness: EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, DT Caleb Banks, DT Jalen Redmond
There isn’t a lot of disparity here. I do think there is a good chance that Banks could fetch a first-round pick in a vacuum, but who would trade a first for him before playing a down in the NFL, especially with his injury history?
With his surge thus far, Redmond would get close to, or possibly net, a first-round pick. He logged 35 pressures and 6.5 sacks in his first full season as a starter. Plus, he’s only entering year three, and is the best defensive tackle in the NFC North. A team could definitely fork over a hefty price for Redmond if it came down to it.
