3 players the Vikings should consider putting on the trade block

Adam Thielen – WR

Potential Trade Partners:

• New England Patriots
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Baltimore Ravens

Let’s take a deep breath before continuing, okay? For most, it’s incredibly hard to imagine Adam Thielen ever playing in another NFL uniform and the Vikings actually trading him this season is something that still seems pretty unlikely.

But Thielen is a player who, at 30-years-old, is nearing the end of his prime, he has a $13.5 million cap hit in 2021, and he is one of the few guys on Minnesota’s current roster who can help them acquire a second-round draft pick that they currently don’t have after trading for Yannick Ngakoue earlier this year.

The success of Justin Jefferson so far this season is something that has made the possibility of trading Thielen even somewhat realistic. The Vikings also have other weapons on their roster like Irv Smith Jr. and Dalvin Cook who can make up for the loss of Thielen in the team’s passing attack if he were to be dealt.

Any possible trade involving Minnesota’s top receiver would likely depend on how the team’s next two games turn out. If the Vikings are 1-6 or 2-5 after facing the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers, then calling around to see who wants to make a deal for Thielen could be in the cards.

But if Minnesota goes out and wins their next pair of games against the Falcons and Packers, then any possible trade involving the talented receiver is likely off the table.

Like we mentioned earlier, it’s getting to the point for the Vikings this season where they probably need to start thinking of what they can do to improve their chances to contend in 2021.

If Minnesota believes that trading Thielen to acquire an early-round draft pick and create some much-needed cap space is what’s best for the future of the franchise, then it’s something they should explore before this year’s deadline.