Local insider highlights two interesting trade targets for the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings will play the Los Angeles Rams tonight on Thursday Night Football, looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season, last week. It’s a big game, too. A win would put them right back on track in the NFC Championship conversation.
A loss would send Vikings fans into panic mode, and national pundits into “Minnesota pretender” mode, faster than ice is made in mid-January. Meanwhile, hanging over tonight’s game is the NFL Trade Deadline, which is less than two weeks away (November 5)
The Minnesota Vikings are going to be buyers. They have made that very clear to just about any NFL insider that has checked in on their deadline plans. Darren Wolfson (SKOR North) went as far to say he expects a “splash” move, even.
Two Minnesota Vikings trade targets that one team insider is watching
But who exactly do the Vikings have their eyes on? According to Alec Lewis (The Athletic), Kwesi & Co are shopping hard for defensive tackles, cornerbacks and offensive guards. Lewis brought names to the table, too… three for each position listed. I’m not going to dive into all nine of his Vikings trade targets, but it’s a great read, if you want to.
There were a couple of names on Lewis’ that standout to him, over the others’ at their position group. Two players he thinks seem more likely to land in MN than the other seven names listed.
He did not give a leg up to any of the three CBs he names as possible targets (Jonathan Jones, Greg Newsome II or Marshon Lattimore). Cost and role will be the question, at that position. But at both DT and G, Alec has two targets who make sense above the others.
Calais Campbell – Dolphins – 38 y/o
Maybe the most enticing name here is Campbell, the ageless wonder who at 38 has a higher pressure rate than even Dexter Lawrence II. Adding the former All-Pro to a defense already full of them (Harrison Smith and Stephon Gilmore) would generate a different level of fear in offenses. Because he is only under a one-year contract, the Vikings might not have to part with a premium pick, either.
A deeper look into Calais Campbell tells us why Lewis loves the fit and why he is probably hearing rumblings behind the scenes, that the Minnesota Vikings have interest. He is way older (and way cheaper) than what the other two options are (no, none of them are Dexter Lawrence).
Not only that, but you saw the hint above, at Campbell’s productivity this season. I mean, this dude has an 84.8 PFF grade (194 snaps), which is good for 5th among all NFL defensive linemen. He is also top 10 in PFF pass rush grade (78.4) and run defense grade (75.3).
Calais Campbell. 38 years old and still good pic.twitter.com/TbPVxbiKZU
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) October 24, 2024
