First, know this: The Minnesota Vikings remain committed to competing in 2023. They might be 2-4 with a slugfest against the San Francisco 49ers coming next Monday night, but this team and staff have not given up on the season.
Following the game against the 49ers, the Vikings will travel to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers. That matchup will happen two days before the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
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By then, the team’s outlook will have further crystallized. Will Minnesota be 2-6 and a long way from a wild-card spot, or will it have clawed its way to 3-5 or even 4-4?
Regardless, let’s set the stage for the Vikings’ most realistic trade options. Below are five players they could move, why they’d make sense, why they wouldn’t and their best potential team fits.
Why it makes sense: First, Hunter is performing admirably in 2023 and is tied for the NFL lead in sacks (eight). Second, he is only under contract through the end of this season. And third, Hunter’s overall value could land Minnesota a solid draft pick. Last year, for reference, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired edge rusher Robert Quinn for a fourth-round pick. Hunter is younger than Quinn and could be an obvious extension candidate for any acquiring team, potentially solidifying that team’s pass-rush talent for years to come.
Why it doesn’t make sense: Because the Vikings need talent on their defensive front. Remove Hunter and defensive coordinator Brian Flores would be operating with D.J. Wonnum and Patrick Jones II. Offseason edge signing Marcus Davenport is on injured reserve, nursing a high ankle sprain. His recovery timeline is uncertain. The long-term view at edge rusher is just as bleak. The Vikings hope Andre Carter II develops into an impact player, but he was an undrafted rookie. Take Hunter out of the equation and Minnesota would either have to allocate premium draft capital to the spot or fish for options in free agency. Hunter might be in line for a massive extension given his 2023 performance, which complicates the Vikings’ decision. Inarguable, though, is that Hunter has performed consistently for years. Only 23 players have played 3,000 snaps as a pass rusher since Hunter’s rookie season in 2015. Hunter ranks fifth in sacks among those players behind Aaron Donald, Chandler Jones, Cameron Jordan and Khalil Mack.
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Best team fit: Baltimore Ravens
.@DHunt94_TX ends the drive with his 2nd sack of the afternoon.
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/eEpN23GH0b
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 15, 2023
Why it makes sense: He has multiple qualities that teams covet, and he can become a free agent at the end of the season. Osborn is dynamic after the catch. Among the 28 receivers this season who have run 200 routes, only three average more yards after the catch than Osborn: D.J. Moore, Ja’Marr Chase and A.J. Brown. Additionally, Osborn is a willing blocker whom Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has used as a quasi-tight end in the run game. Then, there’s the contract situation. Free agency looms for the 26-year-old, which is part of the reason the team drafted Jordan Addison in the first round last spring.
Why it doesn’t make sense: Osborn is one of the Vikings’ core leaders. Part with him during the season and Minnesota would be affecting the locker room chemistry, something the brass has prioritized since the beginning of 2022. His departure would leave a void at the “F” receiver position. Brandon Powell could fill the role in the short term, but long term, Minnesota would need to add at that spot. There’s also the question of the potential return. Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired Mecole Hardman from the New York Jets for a sixth-rounder.
Best team fit: Houston Texans
Why it makes sense: Few Vikings defenders have shined in Flores’ defensive system more than Hicks. The 31-year-old is the team’s green dot. He orchestrates the calls at all levels. And he is the second-highest-graded Vikings defender, according to Pro Football Focus. His ability to acclimate to multiple systems gives him value, as does his leadership presence. Hicks is widely respected throughout the NFL and is only under contract through the conclusion of this season, so he could serve as an impactful rental to a contending team.
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Why it doesn’t make sense: Minnesota does not have much experience at linebacker. Undrafted rookie Ivan Pace Jr. has played well through six games, but it’s difficult to imagine him operating the controls on a down-to-down basis at this point. Hicks also was willing to take a pay cut to remain in Minnesota before the season. Given the way he has acclimated to Flores’ system, who’s to say he wouldn’t want to return at a cost that would give the team flexibility elsewhere?
Best team fit: Dallas Cowboys
Ezra Cleveland, OL
Why it makes sense: The Vikings have not committed to Cleveland long-term, and Cleveland could be of interest to a contender. He has a foot injury, which might play a role in the proceedings, but Cleveland, a second-round pick in 2020, has started 49 games. He entered the league as a tackle but has mostly played left guard. This season, Cleveland ranks seventh among guards who have played at least 50 percent of their team’s snaps in overall PFF grade.
Why it doesn’t make sense: Would the return be worthwhile? Last year, the New England Patriots traded Justin Herron to the Las Vegas Raiders for a sixth-round pick. If Minnesota keeps its sights set on the back half of the 2023 season, Cleveland would help.
Best team fit: San Francisco 49ers
GO DEEPER
Did the Vikings underestimate the value of a playmaking running back?
Why it makes sense: You cannot dispute Phillips’ ability to stop the run. Though he might not be a pass-rushing presence on the interior, he can mug up multiple gaps. Last season, Minnesota asked Phillips to essentially carry the load up front from a run-stopping standpoint, and he did so despite playing with a gnarly toe injury. In 2023, Phillips ranks 16th among 67 qualified defensive linemen in run-stopping grade, per PFF. His salary is not guaranteed for 2024, either, leaving his future with the Vikings up in the air.
Why it doesn’t make sense: Take Phillips away from this defensive front and the Vikings would face a serious challenge in stopping the run. Fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard has done an admirable job in this regard, and Khyiris Tonga and rookie Jaquelin Roy have also played meaningful snaps. Phillips, though, is the primary run stopper of that group and is a leader inside the locker room.
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Best team fit: Los Angeles Chargers
(Photo of K.J. Osborn: David Berding / Getty Images)
“The Football 100,” the definitive ranking of the NFL’s best 100 players of all time, goes on sale this fall. Pre-order it here.
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