Vikings GM Nolan Teasley could make a big splash ahead of 2026 season, and it would elevate Brian Flores’ defense
The Minnesota Vikings have a great defense already, but a potential trade going into the season could take it to another level.
The Minnesota Vikings are 10 days away from the start of their season, and general manager Nolan Teasley has yet to put his own stamp on this roster. He’s made moves here and there, assembling the practice squad, finalizing the 53-man roster, and signing Kyle Van Noy.
Teasley spoke to Minnesota Vikings media on Wednesday, and the majority of the discussion centered on quarterback J.J. McCarthy. That’s completely understandable given McCarthy is still on the 53-man roster with real questions about his status. Teasley kept it simple, saying the team expects McCarthy to be there while declining to go in depth about the depth chart.
That’s not the focus here, though. The focus is how Teasley can build on the roster he inherited, and a trade that fits Brian Flores’ defensive philosophy could be the move that does it. But how can Teasley continue to make this thing his own? A trade could be the answer, and the name might surprise you: Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Why Porter fits what Brian Flores wants
Flores’ defense prioritizes versatility, length, and aggression. Those three traits define what the Vikings want from their defenders, and Porter checks every box. Plus, there is a level of continuity with Porter and the Vikings, as his former defensive backs coach, Gerald Alexander, now holds that title with Minnesota.
Porter is a huge corner at 6-2, 193 pounds with long arms and plenty of athleticism. Watching his film, what stands out are his movement skills, his ability to start and stop, and his hip fluidity. When he gets turned around on out routes with opposite leverage, he can flip his hips and work back to the football. It won’t always be fast enough to prevent a well-timed throw, but it reveals something you can utilize across other route concepts.
Where a lot of his intrigue lies is with Porter had 11 pass breakups last season and 21 total in his career, with only three interceptions. He’s generating those breakups from a multitude of different planes. The Steelers moved him inside to the slot at times based on coverage looks, and he showed he could handle it. Against the Detroit Lions, they tried to exploit his slot alignment with Amon-Ra St. Brown by flexing a tight end to the outside and moving Porter to the inside wall. Despite having outside leverage, Porter still got his arm around and forced a pass breakup on an in-breaker.
Those are the tidbits that get you excited about what Porter could do in Flores’ defense. That length, speed, and ability to play in a multitude of ways can thrive. With how much Flores likes to play zone behind hyper-aggressive blitzes, Porter’s 34″ arms becomes a maximizer. When you want to play man coverage, his aggressiveness at the line of scrimmage can be impactful against alpha wide receivers.
The case for a trade despite cornerback depth
Cornerback feels like a strong position for Minnesota. Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre form a solid trio. Charles Demmings made the roster as a fifth-round pick, and Zemaiah Vaughn had a strong camp as a 2025 UDFA. So why would the Vikings want Porter?
The answer comes down to scheme fit. In Pittsburgh, Porter may not be valued as highly because the Steelers run simplistic coverage schemes without a ton of pre-snap disguise. That’s not going to hold as much value as what he could do with Flores, who can utilize Porter’s length, speed, and physicality to a different level. Plus, with Flores’ ability to dial up pressure easily, having a strong secondary can make his pressure packages more explosive and diverse.
Is Porter as good as his contemporaries from the 2023 draft class, Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon? Going into the 2023 NFL Draft, I had Porter ranked 0.1 points on my scale above Witherspoon and 0.1 below Gonzalez. All three are good players with Porter being the third among them, but the key is what Porter could become in this defense. You get him into the building, Rodgers stays outside, and Murphy kicks inside to the slot in nickel packages. Now you’re cooking with gas. You can play straight-up man-to-man and trust those guys, unlocking a whole new level for Flores’ defense. Maybe you can actually improve from your second-place finish. Pressure can always be generated, but you can’t generate great coverage.
The caveats are real
A trade does come with significant considerations. How much draft capital are you willing to part with? Porter is only 25 years old heading into his fourth season and final year of his rookie contract. The Steelers will want a first-round pick. After all, Sauce Gardner went for two first-round picks and a player last October to the Indianapolis Colts. I don’t think Porter fetches that much. A second-round pick and a conditional fourth that could turn into a third feels like a reasonable range.
Then you likely will have to pay him a record-setting extension north of $30 million per year. That’s a real commitment for a player who has been called for 36 penalties on 2,600 snaps, with 12 of those accepted. That needs to be cleaned up.
Would the Vikings actually want to do it? I’m not convinced. But a trade anytime makes sense if it helps the team. The Khalil Mack trade in 2018 came about 10 days before the season, and he helped the Chicago Bears go 12-4. They were a double doink away from the divisional round. It doesn’t matter when you make a move as long as it helps your franchise.
Adding Porter would be fascinating. Whether the Vikings pull the trigger remains to be seen, but the fit with Flores’ defense is real.
