The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0, and there is plenty of buzz surrounding the organization as they head into their bye week. They are also nearing the NFL's trade deadline, which is set for November 5.
Despite their undefeated start, there is still plenty to improve upon for the Vikings. They have been far from perfect and will have to account for injuries throughout the season, which they have been able to manage thus far, thanks to their incredible depth across the roster.
With the deadline looming, are there any players across the NFL with ties to Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores that could be acquired?
Players with ties to Minnesota Vikings coaches the team could acquire before the trade deadline
Van Jefferson - WR (Pittsburgh Steelers)
On the offensive side of the ball, the Vikings could benefit from adding another playmaker into the fold. The offense has been very good so far this season, and that should continue throughout the rest of the year with O'Connell in charge.
Still, a player like Van Jefferson should be on their radar as a potential weapon in the offense, as his role in Pittsburgh is limited. The Steelers simply do not utilize their receivers as much as Minnesota, and with some youth behind him, Jefferson is expendable.
Van Jefferson had his best season as a pro under O'Connell back in 2021. Jefferson caught 50 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns in that season alone. In his other four seasons combined, Jefferson has 860 yards and four touchdowns.
Jerome Baker - LB (Seattle Seahawks)
Jerome Baker spent three seasons with Brian Flores in Miami from 2019-2021 where he played in all 48 games and started 42 of them. In those three seasons, Baker racked up two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and 330 total tackles.
Now in Seattle, Baker has missed two games but is still starting for the first-place team in the NFC West. Trading for Baker would be admittedly difficult given his impact in Seattle and the lack of true need for an off-ball linebacker for the Vikings.
The Vikings could be bold and try to land another linebacker with how often Flores rotates his guys. If there is a Flores tie out there that could be a vital depth piece, Baker is probably the best bet at this point in the season.
Raekwon McMillan - LB (New England Patriots)
The Patriots offer some interesting options for the Vikings if they wish to bring in some Brian Flores reinforcements at the deadline. Jonathan Jones is their most likely player to be traded, as he is in the final year of his contract and just turned 31 years old.
Another candidate, however, is linebacker Raekwon McMillan. McMillan spent one season with Flores in Miami back in 2019 which also happened to be his last season as a full-time player. Since that season, McMillan has started just eight games but also missed two full seasons due to injury.
The Patriots are arguably the worst team in the NFL this season and are dealing a lot of issues of their own. It would not be a surprise to see them sell off some veteran pieces at the trade deadline to give way to their younger players.
McMillan is the perfect candidate to join Flores' defense and give them an additional player in the front seven in case of emergency.
Adam Butler - DT (Las Vegas Raiders)
Veteran defensive lineman Adam Butler has familiarity with Brian Flores and Flores has already made sure to bring him aboard at two stops. The two originally spent two years together in New England from 2017-18, and Flores brought Butler to Miami in 2021.
Butler has spent the last two seasons as a rotational tackle for the Raiders where he continues to make some splash plays in the backfield. With 15.0 career sacks and 20 tackles for loss, Butler would be an upgrade up the middle for the Vikings.
Butler is playing for a bad team on a cheap contract and has some young players pushing for playing time behind him. Vegas could look to get something in return for an older veteran at a price the Vikings can actually afford with limited draft picks in 2025.