The Vikings’ Trade Board: 10 Names to Watch Ahead of the NFL Deadline

At most, the Vikings’ trade tally will climb up to a pair. Pulling off two trades would be bold and frisky. Much more likely is either standing pat or doing a single swap.

So, don’t go too far with the ten names. All we’re doing is making some plausible connections.

Plenty of names are flying around in the NFL’s trade rumors. To help shrink things down, I’ve looked to Daniel Popper of The Athletic since he does the ambitious work of collecting a whopping 50 players who could get traded. Consider some players who look like decent fits for the Vikings due to some combination of fit, need, projected cost, and so on.

The Vikings’ Trade Board Ahead of ’26 NFL Deadline

No. 10 — S Minkah Fitzpatrick

The terrific safety would make Minnesota’s secondary considerably more dangerous. Part of the issue is that Brian Flores and Minkah Fitzpatrick have a history. Generally, the coach/player overlap is a good thing but there has been friction in this relationship.

No. 9 — QB Daniel Jones

Truth be told, I’m not convinced this is a good fit. However, the Colts are a mess of a team that’s likely looking to embrace the tank. Jones is a great athlete (albeit one who had a serious injury last season) who has great size alongside some knowledge of the Kevin O’Connell scheme.

No. 8 — TE Mo Alie-Cox

The massive tight end is a massive tight end. Minnesota needs one of those since Josh Oliver got hurt. Mo Alie-Cox is an overlooked, underrated veteran who stands at 6’5″ and who weighs 267 pounds. The 33-year-old pass catcher doesn’t catch many passes but he’s a good blocker.

No. 7 — LG Ben Bredeson

As far as I can tell, Mr. Bredeson isn’t often mentioned within the broader NFL trade chatter. Nevertheless, the veteran interior lineman offers appeal due to his versatility, connection to the Vikings (his brother, Max, plays in Minnesota), and playing on a poor Tampa Bay team.

No. 6 — RB Alvin Kamara

The Vikings need help at running back. In Alvin Kamara, the Vikings would be adding a veteran who can run and catch. Something to be said for that as the depth chart shuffling is an ongoing process. Could he ignite the screen game?

No. 5 — S Camryn Bynum

Mr. Bynum went to Indianapolis when the Colts had an optimistic outlook. No longer. The Vikings may seek a reunion with the safety who got his career off the ground dancing up a storm in Minneapolis. How enthused would Minnesota’s fans be to see Bynum dancing alongside Josh Metellus yet again?

No. 4 — S Derwin James

He’s older, pricey, and hurt. He’s elite when he’s out there. Could he be had for cheap? Worth a phone call.

No. 3 — RB Tony Pollard

The veteran can both run and catch. So far, Tony Pollard’s 2026 has featured 133 carries for 595 yards and 6 touchdowns. His 4.5 yards-per-carry average is very healthy. The Titans’ RB1 is playing in a contract year, meaning a trade is easier to digest.

No. 2 — RB Jonathan Taylor

At the top of his game, Jonathan Taylor is an elite runner. Minnesota hasn’t had an elite runner in a little while. The Colts likely want a decent haul but Minnesota would be foolish to go beyond a 3rd, a total that’s likely not enough.

No. 1 — QB Kirk Cousins

In an odd twist of fate, Kirk Cousins is now the top Vikings trade option. What a world, eh? The 4-5 Raiders have indicated that he’s not for sale, according to Adam Schefter. All that means is that he won’t be had for cheap. Do the Vikings pay enough to get him?

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.