The Minnesota Vikings went from having one of the more threatening wide receiver rooms in the NFL to one of the softest, as superstar Justin Jefferson is dealing with a nagging injury, and standout No. 2 Jordan Addison will miss the first three games of the 2025 season due to a suspension.
With Addison out and Jefferson on the mend, names like former sixth-round pick Jalen Nailor and third-round rookie Tai Felton will be placed in very prominent roles. With a quarterback in J.J. McCarthy who hasn't suited up yet, getting him as much surrounding talent as possible should still be the top priority for this front office.
With trade season starting to get kicked up a notch, including the Vikings themselves trading away starting defensive tackle Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets, the time might be right for Minnesota to call up Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys to see if they are in a deal-making mood.
The Cowboys could be willing to part ways with young wide receiver Jalen Tolbert after their acquisition of George Pickens earlier in the offseason, and the Vikings might be able to take advantage of this surplus by flipping a pick they acquired in the Phillips trade.
This Vikings-Cowboys trade offer sends Jalen Tolbert to Minnesota
Tolbert may have frustrated some Cowboys fans after some young mistakes in key areas cost this team, but he did also put together his finest individual season as a pro in 2024. Tolbert caught 49 passes for 610 yards and seven touchdowns despite playing with Cooper Rush as his quarterback for most of the season.
Not only is Tolbert a player who can help the offense maintain a level of baseline competency in the immediate future, but he should be able to have a leg up on Nailor in competing for the WR3 spot when everyone is healthy. Tolbert's contested catch ability will add a new flavor to the Vikings' offense that the Jefferson-less receiver room lacks.
Dallas, meanwhile, can add an extra pick while trying in vain to justify the trade for Jonathan Mingo at last year's trade deadline. The Cowboys can also free up more targets for KaVontae Turpin, which has been a priority for Brian Schottenheimer all offseason.
Tolbert is not going to be a game-changer for this offense, but he will provide a much-needed injection of talent that can help the Vikings both sustain the loss of Addison and improve their floor.