4 Vikings players who might be traded before Week 1 of the 2020 season
By Dean Jones
Jalyn Holmes – DL
The Vikings were dealt a blow when free-agent signing Michael Pierce opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 health concerns.
While no player should be criticized for putting their health before football in this unprecedented time, the defensive tackle was being counted on to fill the void left by veteran Pro Bowler Linval Joseph following his move to the Los Angeles Chargers this year.
Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen have been lining up as Minnesota’s top defensive tackle tandem at training camp. This could be potentially bad news for the overall aspirations of Jalyn Holmes, who once again appears to be on the outside looking in.
The former fourth-round pick has not seen much of the field during his first two years in the NFL. Whether the Vikings are biding their time in developing him remains uncertain, but there is also the possibility that Minnesota’s coaching staff are yet to be convinced by Holmes’ production on the field.
His versatility to play anywhere across the defensive line is something that might attract interest from some teams if the Vikings decide to put him on the trade block before Week 1.
Getting a mid-to-late round pick in return might be the best-case scenario for Minnesota with a deal involving Holmes at this juncture. But their lack of defensive line depth is also something to consider and a contingency plan must be put in place in this scenario.