Kevin O'Connell shares Vikings plans for the 2024 trade deadline

The Minnesota Vikings made their first preemptive strike by acquiring Cam Akers from the Houston Texans on Tuesday but head coach Kevin O’Connell hinted the Vikings will be looking for more potential moves ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline.

O’Connell was asked about the Vikings deadline plans during his press conference on Wednesday, and while he didn’t say a move was imminent, he believes that Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be busy leading up to the November 5th deadline.

“We feel like we’ve got really good depth. That was one of the reasons we made the move for Cam, just to continue to solidify an important part of our team for the next 12 games and beyond.

If there’s an opportunity to do that at another position or an opportunity to add an impact player, you just have to work through all of those as a group and figure out what works best.”

Will the Minnesota Vikings be active again during this season's trade deadline?

In two seasons as Minnesota's general manager, Adofo-Mensah has not been shy to make a move at the deadline. 

In 2022, the Vikings sent a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for T.J. Hockenson and a 2023 fourth-round selection.

Hockenson has become a critical part of the Vikings' offense since the trade and could make his regular-season debut if Minnesota chooses to activate him from the physically unable to perform list ahead of Sunday’s game against Detroit.

In 2023, the Vikings sent a 2024 sixth-round pick and a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick in exchange for Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs started four games for Minnesota after the trade, and the seventh-round pick was never exchanged after he failed to meet the conditions of the deal.

The Vikings also traded Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick ahead of last year’s deadline.

With Minnesota at 5-0, they could enticed to make another move to bolster the roster, such as an interior offensive or defensive lineman or a linebacker in case Blake Cashman’s turf toe injury lingers longer than expected. But the Vikings have limited draft capital to spend with just a first-round pick and two fifth-round picks in the 2025 draft.

Still, Minnesota could get creative to acquire depth. Tuesday’s trade for Akers was made using a pair of late-round picks in the 2026 draft, and the Vikings' biggest need is depth, meaning they could still be busy without making a seismic move.

But for now, O’Connell is focused on the team he has and knows his front office will have his back if something is needed at the deadline.

“I think where we’re at right now as a team, we’re just focused on the guys we have, and we’re really excited about our roster. But I’m sure as we move forward here, Kwesi and his group will be evaluating any and all options that work from a standpoint of continuing to build this team.”