5 trade targets for the Vikings prior to the trade deadline

The Minnesota Vikings sit at 5-0 and have been perhaps the biggest surprise in the NFL this season. Despite playing six consecutive quarters of underwhelming football, the Vikings are staring down a playoff spot.

The past two wins have been ugly and filled with stressful situational football, but Minnesota continues to find ways to win.

However, injuries and struggles on offense may force them to get creative heading into the trade deadline. Which players would be worth trading for as the Vikings try to stay atop the NFC?

5 trade targets for the Minnesota Vikings prior to the trade deadline

Devin Duvernay - WR/PR/KR (Jacksonville Jaguars)

The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled out of the gate and were the last team in the NFL to record a win. Sitting at 1-4, Jacksonville has quickly fallen out of the race and could soon be looking to build for next year. Devin Duvernay is one of the best return specialists in the NFL and would be a massive addition for the Vikings.

While Brandon Powell has been fine as the punt returner, the Vikings have had several miscues on special teams and have come very close to letting those mistakes cost them games. Adding Duvernay to limit the hiccups and create more of a threat in the return game could be a simple yet effective move for Minnesota.

Raheem Mostert - RB (Miami Dolphins)

Similar to Jacksonville, the Dolphins have not been as good as expected so far this season and could be a team to watch at the trade deadline. If they do not turn their season around, it would make sense for them to part ways with some of their veterans. The most likely candidate to be dealt is Raheem Mostert.

Mostert shares the backfield with two promising young backs in De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright. With Jeff Wilson also in the mix, Mostert is expendable for a team like the Vikings, who have slowed down when Aaron Jones is on the sideline.

Jones has been exceptional for the Vikings thus far but if he misses any sort of time, the offense could be in trouble. Adding Mostert or another veteran running back should be in the cards as this season progresses.

Paulson Adebo - CB (New Orleans Saints)

The Saints are in an interesting spot as things stand. They have a ton of work to do in terms of their cap situation while also being far from a contender. If things go as expected, New Orleans will have to build from the ground and completely reset their roster soon.

Paulson Adebo is one of my favorite young cornerbacks in the NFL and could be dealt at the deadline. He is an impending free agent, and the Saints simply cannot afford to bring him back next year unless they part ways with Marshon Lattimore. The Vikings could offer some draft picks in the future to take Adebo off their hands while getting a young cornerback of the future.

Byron Murphy and Stephon Gilmore are both free agents after the season, and the Vikings will need to address the secondary. Adebo - or perhaps even Lattimore - would be a big swing at the deadline with future payoffs.

Greg Newsome - CB (Cleveland Browns)

Much like the Saints, the Browns find themselves in a brutal salary cap situation thanks to their disaster of a quarterback. As they try to reset their books, Greg Newsome is worth checking in on. Newsome has struggled to stay fully healthy throughout his young career and is set to make $13.3 million on his fifth-year option in 2025.

Minnesota should be aggressive in bolstering the secondary for the future, especially without any second-round pick in 2025. If they can swing a deal for a promising young player such as Newsome, I think it is well worth the risk. The Browns may be desperate to shed money so they can eventually afford to eat the money on Deshaun Watson's contract.

Chuba Hubbard - RB (Carolina Panthers)

Minnesota should be very intrigued by the Carolina Panthers heading into the trade deadline. The Panthers are still one of the league's worst teams and have apparently given up on their second-year quarterback already.

As they look to add ammunition for a new quarterback or potentially clear cap space to get a veteran in free agency, the Panthers could be active on the trade market. Running back Chuba Hubbard is set to be a free agent after the season and rookie Jonathan Brooks is poised to take over once he is healthy.

The Vikings need running back depth, and Hubbard has shown that he can be reliable. Over his past three games, Hubbard has 385 total yards and three touchdowns while averaging over six yards per carry.

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