Every summer, the Minnesota Vikings usually make at least one trade with another team, either offloading players like Harrison Phillips, Mekhi Blackmon, or Sam Howell last year, or onboarding them, like Adam Thielen. Minnesota has a new general manager after firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January. Nolan Teasley is now in charge, and time will tell if he trades as frequently as Adofo-Mensah, who wheeled and dealt like a fiend.
If Teasley is in the mood, he should target these five players as attainable examples.
Five Realistic Trade Targets for Minnesota
1. Chris Braswell | OLB (TB)
Let’s get this out of the way: Braswell is not a game-wrecker, at least not yet. He logged a 61.0 Pro Football Focus grade as a rookie in 2024, followed by a 57.6 mark in 2025. The man has played 612 defensive snaps in two years, a low figure for a 2nd-round selection.
But here’s the rub: Braswell remains just 24 years old, and if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t use him as a full-timer — or give him an audition — it might be time to ship him elsewhere for a change of scenery. As a third pass rusher on the depth chart, which the Vikings may need, Braswell makes sense.
Braswell could probably play closer to 400-500 snaps in Minnesota and escape the undersignificance in Tampa Bay.
Estimated Trade Cost: 4th- or 5th-round Pick
2. Riley Moss | CB (DEN)
The Vikings, for the first time in a while, have plenty of cornerback options, including Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, and rookie Charles Demmings. That group might be in trustworthy shape.
Yet, if defensive coordinator Brian Flores wants even more depth, swinging a deal for Moss checks some boxes.
Denver drafted Jahdae Barron in 2025 with 1st-round capital; sooner or later, the plan is probably for Barron to take a starter’s job, and Moss is the likely victim. Moss’s contract expires after the 2026 season, with Denver not extending his stay to date.
Moss started all 17 games last year, surrendering a respectable 88.2 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks. Meanwhile, one of Minnesota’s starters, Rodgers, is scheduled to hit free agency in 2027. There’s a world where trading for Moss and letting Rodgers walk could occur.
From the Broncos’ standpoint, if Moss is going to leave in free agency, why not get a mid-round pick for his services? Allowing him to depart for nothing would be silly.
Estimated Trade Cost: 3rd- or 4th-round Pick
3. Jarrett Patterson | iOL (HOU)
Patterson has played 1,345 offensive snaps since the start of 2023 with the Houston Texans at guard and center. That is exactly — checks notes — what the Vikings need heading into 2026: a dependable interior offensive lineman with experience. The guy who previously fit that billing is named Blake Brandel, and he appears on tap to start at center. Minnesota no longer has a do-it-all lineman if Brandel is at center full-time.
At 25, youth is still on Patterson’s side. Like Moss, he’s on a path to 2027 free agency, and he’s listed as a third-string guard in Houston, despite PFF grades in the 60.0 range.
Think of it this way: if a Vikings guard — Donovan Jackson or Will Fries — goes down, the coaching staff would turn to Joe Huber. Patterson might be a sturdier alternative.
Estimated Trade Cost: 6th-round Pick
4. Kayvon Thibodeaux | OLB (NYG)
The New York Giants selected Thibodeaux fifth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has not lived up to the investment. The athletic pass rusher banked 11.5 sacks in 2023, but overall through four seasons, he has 23.5. He’s also missed 12 games in the last two seasons.
New York has Brian Burns and Abdul Carter in front of Thibodeaux on the depth chart before training camp. Neither man will lose his starting job, especially not to Thibodeaux.
If the Vikings think Thibodeaux can be unlocked, the Giants can likely get a 3rd-rounder for him, salvaging the 1st-round capital just a bit before he departs the franchise in eight months.
Remember: the Vikings have an extra 3rd-round pick in the holster because of the Greenard trade. Why not use it on a young EDGE?
Estimated Trade Cost: 3rd-round Pick
5. Jaylen Wright | RB (MIA)
On the current roster, Minnesota has one old running back (Aaron Jones), one in his prime (Jordan Mason), and a newcomer (Demond Claiborne). Zavier Scott will fight for a roster spot as well. What’s missing, besides Claiborne, is youth and speed.
Insert Wright.
Wright is 23. He’s trapped behind De’Von Achane and Ollie Gordon on the Miami Dolphins’ depth chart. As a 4th-rounder from the 2024 NFL Draft, he is not contributing to the Dolphins’ long-term plan and will only see action if injuries affect Achane or Gordon.
The Vikings hired Frank Smith (assistant coach) from the Dolphins to start the offseason. He coached Wright for two years in Miami. Minnesota should explore a deal for Wright because Jones and Mason will be free agents in 2027 (if they’re not extended).
Estimated Trade Cost: 5th-round Pick
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VikesNow Verdict: The Vikings shouldn’t just trade for the sake of trading. But Patterson and Wright offer smart, cheap depth, and Braswell has intriguing upside. While Moss and Thibodeaux would be bigger acquisitions, they’re only worthwhile if their teams aren’t demanding excessive compensation. Minnesota should prioritize acquiring young talent that can contribute beyond 2026.
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