Kelechi Osemele is the trade deadline gamble the Vikings should take

Although it is unlikely the Minnesota Vikings will make a move at the trade deadline, Oakland Raiders guard Kelechi Osemele would make an intriguing target.

The NFL trade deadline is one of the most bizarre in all of professional sports. While many teams have buyers and sellers followed by a flurry of moves, the NFL seems to be comprised of the most tight fisted groups of general managers in all of sports.

Mid-to-late round draft picks are treated like gold at the deadline even though there is the possibility of acquiring proven talent.

So far, we’ve already seen a couple of moves at the deadline. The Jacksonville Jaguars got aggressive and landed running back Carlos Hyde from the Cleveland Browns while the Dallas Cowboys also went for the gold, tossing a first-round pick at the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Amari Cooper.

As the early returns on the deadline suggest that this will be an active period, there has been speculation on how the Minnesota Vikings could improve their roster as they push for a Super Bowl appearance this season.

While some may have dreamed big on landing Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, a much more realistic target may be to address the offensive line and land Raiders guard Kelechi Osemele.

The 29-year old guard is currently stuck in a tough situation in Oakland. Along with the trade that sent Cooper packing, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur says that many of the veterans have questioned head coach Jon Gruden’s “accountability” thanks in part to an earlier deal that sent defensive end Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears.

When asked by a reader if there was a chance Osemele could be dealt, Tafur replied that “everyone is available.”

Landing Osemele would be a dream scenario for the Vikings and a chance to bolster their beleaguered offensive line.

As a two-time Pro Bowler and a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2016, the Oakland guard could be the missing piece to get the running game going and cut back on the historic number of quarterback pressures Minnesota’s blockers are currently allowing.

Yes, there are negatives to bringing Osemele in, especially considering he’s played in just four of the Raiders’ six games this season due to a knee injury.

There’s also the matter of cost as Oakland seems to be obsessed with hoarding first-round draft picks with five over the next two years. Plus, with the Vikings having just around $1.1 million in cap space, it’s almost impossible to find a way to get Osemele’s $9.7 million cap number onto the roster.

However, if there ever was a time to creative this is it. With Tom Compton potentially on the shelf with a MCL sprain and an offensive line that could use an upgrade, finding a way to acquire Osemele is the gamble the should Vikings take.