Vikings Nearly Traded Overshadowed Linebacker at Trade Deadline

The Minnesota Vikings stood pat at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, kind of. Sure, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t make any trades yesterday, before the buzzer went off at 3 p.m. CST, but he did consummate deals days/weeks earlier.

First, the Vikings swapped out some future day three selections to land RB Cam Akers from the Houston Texans. Then, last week, they swung a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for LT Cam Robinson, following an announcement that imminent Pro Bowler Christian Darrisaw would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL/MCL in his right knee.

Minnesota Vikings tried trading Brian Asamoah before NFL trade deadline

Those two trades ended up being the only moving and grooving that Kwesi did, prior to the 2024 NFL trade deadline. But that doesn’t mean the Minnesota Vikings didn’t try to do more. The Vikings were working the phones all day. The player they shopped the hardest seems to be inside linebacker, Brian Asamoah.

According to trusted NFL insider, Jeremy Fowler (ESPN), the Vikings tried to unload Asamoah. Fortunately or unfortunately, they couldn’t get a deal done before time ran out.

A few former Day 2 picks from the 2022 draft class who were on my radar but didn’t get traded were Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich and Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II. Both teams had trade discussions on the players, who are not in the mix for playing time. And there was interest, which deepened the intrigue on deadline day. But both teams decided to stand pat.

Jeremy Fowler – ESPN

I am a bit surprised a trade for Brian Asamoah never came to be on Tuesday. If you’ll remember, Asamoah was supposed to be the Minnesota Vikings secret ILB weapon, when Brian Flores first took the job as defensive coordinator.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Sign New Veteran Long Snapper, Place Andrew DePaola on IR

Many saw him as the exact type of uber-athletic LB/S hybrid that would wreak havoc on opposing offenses, kind of like what Josh Mettellus has become. Unfortunately, injuries during training camp 2023 hindered his ability to prove himself as that type of defensive weapon.

Asamoah unable to find the field

Those injuries, along with the rise of Ivan Pace Jr, meant more time on the bench for Asamoah, even after he returned to full health. And ever since, he’s struggled to find snaps. Even with Blake Cashman missing the last few games due to injury, Asamoah hasn’t been able to find the field.

Now, UDFA Kamu Grugier-Hill is getting reps over Brian Asamoah. I would have thought that would be enough for the Vikings to move on from the 24-year-old former Oklahoma Sooner, who’s only seen 13 total snaps on defense all season, according to PFF. Asamoah has one season, after this year, remaining on his rookie contract (Spotrac).