5 Minnesota Vikings Trade Targets Worth Trading a First-Round Pick For

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Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The NFL trade deadline is nearly here. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota Vikings have less than 24 hours to go before Tuesday’s 3 p.m. CT cutoff time. This means if the Vikings want to make any more significant roster additions to capitalize on a 6-2 start, the front office will have to act fast.

Local Minnesota insider Darren Wolfson recently indicated he “wouldn’t be surprised” if another Vikings trade happened following the Cam Robinson addition. Now that the Vikings have gotten another win since Doogie spoke, it only makes sense for Kwesi to get even more aggressive.

Yet, the Vikings don’t have many 2025 draft picks. In fact, they only have three right now, including their first-round pick. However, in what’s being described as a weak prospect pool, it may make more sense to acquire a proven talent instead of gambling on another young player in the latter portion of the first round.

Below, we look at which current players may be worth trading a first-round pick for, and each scenario is unique.

Related: What We Learned About the Minnesota Vikings in Get Right Victory Over Colts

D.J. Reed, Jets CB

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No, trading a first-round pick for D.J. Reed outright wouldn’t make any sense. He’s set to become a free agent at the end of the season. Yet, since the 27-year-old’s future in New York is murky, at best, it could make sense to place a phone call to the Jets, who are just 3-6.

Except, since Reed is on an expiring contract, this trade may make a lot more sense if the Vikings offered their first in exchange for the defensive back while also getting a second or third-round pick in return. While Reed grades as Pro Football Focus’ fourth-best cornerback this season, renting him for a few months is certainly not worth a top pick, which is why the Vikings would need the Jets to offer something in return too.

Still, if the Vikings could connect with Reed’s agent and feel confident about their ability to re-sign him, why not make the Jets an offer too good to refuse? He’d become the long-term replacement for Stephon Gilmore, who’s a free agent at season’s end.

Reed has averaged 78 tackles over the past three seasons, and he continually grades positively as a run defender. So, he’d add more than just another solid defender in coverage; he could help the defense in all phases.

Related: Kirk Cousins vs Sam Darnold – Comparing Old/New Minnesota Vikings QBs Through Week 9

Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks CB

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Unlike Reed, Devon Witherspoon may be worth parting with a first-round pick, straight up, without getting anything extra in return. Like Reed, the biggest question here is whether the Seahawks would already be willing to part with a player they selected fifth overall in 2023. Teams very rarely move on from a first-round pick, just two years into their career, especially if they’re still playing well.

Yet, after a strong start, the Seahawks have dropped two games in a row and now sit in last place of the NFC West. Would they suddenly hit the panic button and trade a 24-year-old who still has 2-3 years left on his contract? Probably not.

But it never hurts to make a trade offer, the worst that can happen is the Vikings hear a “no” from the Seahawks. He definitely fits the bill as a young, cost-controlled cornerback that can contribute for multiple seasons, and it’s possible Brian Flores can get the best out of him. Plus, just look at the infectious effort he plays with.

Witherspoon was the NFL’s sixth-highest graded CB per PFF last season, but a scheme change with Mike Macdonald taking over for Pete Carroll has caused him to slip to 30th this season. This could give the Vikings a sliver of hope if the Seahawks are somehow looking to capitalize on his trade value right now in anticipation of bouncing back toward the top of their division next year.

Related: Top Cornerback Could Still Become a Minnesota Vikings Trade Candidate

Jeffery Simmons

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If the season ended today, the Titans would end up with the ninth overall pick. Is that good enough to land their franchise quarterback? It might not be. If so, they could feel pressure to add even more selections ahead of the 2025 NFL draft.

One of the best ways for the Titans to do that is by dangling two-time second-team All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons on the trade block. So far, the Titans have reportedly been unwilling to negotiate a trade involving arguably their best player. Considering they still need to maintain hope and sell tickets, it makes sense not to gut the roster down to the studs.

But what if they got an offer that was too good to refuse? That just might happen, if the Vikings are willing to pony up and put their 2025 first-round pick on the table. Simmons is already 27, and there’s no telling when the Titans will return to relevance, but he’d fit right into the Vikings’ current competitive window. He’s also one of the best game-wreckers in football.

Related: Vikings vs Colts: Referee Tries to Explain Latest Missed Roughing Call Against Sam Darnold

Quinnen Williams

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Bear with us here. If the Jets were ready to actually compete for a Super Bowl, then Quinnen Williams would never be mentioned here. But at some point, the Jets need to face the reality that they’re not among the best teams in the NFL, let alone the AFC.

Williams is basically the oil that makes the Jets’ defensive engine run. It’s why they didn’t hesitate to make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackles, with a four-year, $96 million contract in 2023. Yet, the Jets need a new franchise quarterback, and they may not find one if they just end up selecting 10th, which is where they’d be if the season ended today.

Jets fans won’t want to hear it, but listening to trade offers on their 27-year-old first-team All-Pro could be what puts this team on a quicker path to contention. We’ve seen the Jets build strong defenses for several years now, but it never leads to a consistent winner.

As much of a difference-maker Williams is, he’s not more valuable than a quarterback. Getting an extra first-round pick would undoubtedly improve New York’s chances to bounce back next season, and there are several defensive line prospects in the upcoming draft class too.

While it’s unlikely that the Jets would trade him, we wouldn’t hesitate to offer a first-round pick for Williams. He has the potential to transcend the Vikings’ defense into the best unit in the NFL.

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Dexter Lawrence remains dream Minnesota Vikings trade target

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Even though there have been absolutely zero indications that the Giants would listen to a trade for their best player, we’ll never give up the dream of a Dexter Lawrence Vikings trade. He’s just too perfect.

Big enough to bowl over even the biggest, strongest, and toughest interior linemen, adding “Big Sexy” would give the Vikings a much better chance of dominating in the trenches, even against elite teams such as the Lions. He could single-handedly turn this team’s biggest weakness into a strength for years to come.

Lawrence is still just 26 years old. He’s signed through 2027. But he’s also a two-time second-team All-Pro who likely would have a few first-team selections if he were on a better squad or if Aaron Donald didn’t exist.

As much as the Vikings would love to will a trade for the game’s best defensive tackle into existence, it takes two to tango. Odds are the Giants won’t trade the player who has their team logo tattooed on his forearm, and he’s never expressed any public interest in playing anywhere else. But it’s sure fun to dream.

Related: NFL Insider Expects Another Minnesota Vikings Trade Soon

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