3 trades to make the Vikings championship contenders in 2023

Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner Carlton Davis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner Carlton Davis | Cooper Neill/GettyImages
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Who are three players the Minnesota Vikings could trade for to put them back into contention for a Super Bowl ring in 2023?

With training camp right around the corner and the state of the defense looking bleak, the Minnesota Vikings may need to make a move for an immediate impact player if they want to see similar success to their 2022 season.

In 2022, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulled the trigger on an inter-divisional trade with the Detroit Lions to land tight end T.J. Hockenson. Although this trade seemed to work out for Minnesota, there were still clear needs on the defensive side of the ball that Adofo-Mensah ignored, which eventually caught up to them in the playoffs.

In free agency this year, the Vikings front office brought in cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr. and pass rusher Marcus Davenport. This was a good start, but on paper, Minnesota's defense still has glaring needs.

The Vikings' offense seems primed for another big year, so the thought of the front office bringing in someone on that side of the ball may just be a misuse of resources at this point. Unless a significant injury happens to a starter on that side of the ball, it's fair to say that any player Minnesota might bring in of significance should be on the defensive side of the ball.

It's hard to see any significant move made during training camp, but a move at or around the trade deadline like the Hockenson deal last year is not too far-fetched.

Let's take a look at a few realistic trades the Vikings could make in 2023 that could help them keep pace in the NFC.

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