The Vikings have hit their bye week unbeaten, and that alone tells you how well this team has weathered the storm. Minnesota sits at 5-0 despite losing Kyler Murray, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jordan Mason, T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Donovan Jackson, Christian Darrisaw, and Brett Thorson at different points this season.
That kind of run gives the front office a little room to think bigger than just recovery. The bye is a chance to get healthy, sure, but it also opens the door to a trade deadline push. If Minnesota wants to turn this perfect start into something more, there are a few realistic names worth circling.
One obvious area to attack is safety, and Derwin James stands out. The Vikings defense has been strong by just about every measure, but the back end still feels like a spot that could use help.
Harrison Smith has looked better with more reps, yet his age has shown this year. Josh Metellus and Theo Jackson, meanwhile, haven’t done enough to fully settle things down.
James, even in a down year, is still one of the better safeties in football. At 30, he should be in his prime, not stuck on a 0-5 Chargers team that has already buried itself early. If Minnesota could land him, he’d immediately be the best safety on the roster and a natural successor to Smith, who has said this is his last season.
He also fits what Brian Flores likes to do. James can play in the box or handle deep coverage, which would let the Vikings get creative while also helping preserve Smith with some lighter workloads. The price won’t be small, but Minnesota does have an extra third-round pick from the Jonathan Greenard trade with the Philadelphia Eagles that could be the center of a deal.
Another name that makes sense is Tony Pollard. With Jordan Mason hurt, Aaron Jones has carried a heavy load, taking 97 carries this year after having 112 in 12 games last season, all while playing at 32 years old. Jones has absolutely held up his end, but the depth question hasn’t gone away, even if Mason comes back.
Pollard has been overlooked because the Titans have been so poor, but he’s still topped 1,000 rushing yards behind a shaky Tennessee offensive line over the last two seasons. He wouldn’t walk in and become Minnesota’s bell cow, and he wouldn’t reshape the offense.
What he would do is give the Vikings another veteran runner with real upside at what should be a manageable cost. The expectation is that Tennessee would seek a middle-to-late third-round pick for the 29-year-old.
That kind of move would also ease the burden on Jones while giving Minnesota something close to the lightning-and-thunder setup Mason brought. Pollard can also catch the ball out of the backfield, which gives Kyler Murray a reliable outlet.
Then there’s Khalil Mack, which is the kind of move that makes sense only if you already have a strength worth stacking. Minnesota’s pass rush has been one of its defining weapons, with the defensive tackles of YNU - Young Nasty University - and edge players like Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Kyle Van Noy all posting multiple sacks.
Mack is 35 and clearly not at his peak anymore, but he still has three sacks this season and he’s stuck on a 0-5 Chargers team. For the Vikings, he’d be a rotational weapon who can still wreck a play, while also helping bring Turner along as the young edge rusher keeps emerging as one of the league’s most feared.
It might seem odd to add to an already loaded pass rush, but the logic is pretty simple. Minnesota leans heavily on pressure up front, and another proven rusher could help keep everyone fresh when the weather turns and the games get tighter.
The Chargers would likely want a fifth-round pick and may be willing to eat part of the contract. The Vikings have three fifth-rounders to work with.
The interior offensive line is the other place where Minnesota could use some help, which is where Erik McCoy comes in. Donovan Jackson is out for the rest of the regular season, and that puts the spotlight right back on the middle of the line.
Joe Huber looked good this past week, but it would be asking a lot to expect that every week. Blake Brandel has posted an impressive pass-blocking grade this season, but he is not a center. Will Fries has also been underwhelming since joining the Vikings in free agency two years ago.
McCoy can play both guard and center at a high level, giving Minnesota real flexibility. He could allow Brandel to slide to guard while replacing either Huber or Fries, and he’d also give the team a solid option if injuries strike again.
Some will point to the Cam Robinson trade from a few years ago, but McCoy is under contract through 2027 and would be a longer-term answer to a problem that has lingered for years. He would probably cost a Day 2 pick, but for a stable center, that may be a price worth paying.
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