Now that the Vikings sit as the NFL’s last undefeated team as of Sunday afternoon, the bar in Minnesota has been pushed all the way up. An NFC North title and a playoff berth would be nice, but the target is bigger than that now. The Super Bowl has to be the standard.
That kind of start naturally sends fans into dream-mode, the same way they would in EA Sports’ “Madden NFL” franchise when they start hunting for a blockbuster. Real life is a lot messier than a video game, of course, but the idea is the same: if the Vikings are serious about making a run, who could actually move the needle?
One name that keeps coming up is Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. He would be the kind of addition that changes the look of the offense immediately, but the path to getting him in purple would be a tough one. Minnesota would likely have to part with a first-round pick, and the money is a major hurdle as well.
Taylor is under contract through the 2028 NFL season after signing a two-year, $44 million extension. His cap hit for 2026 is more than $16.1 million, according to Spotrac, while the Vikings have only about $4.4 million in salary cap space. If a deal somehow came together, the 27-year-old would step in as the starter right away, giving Aaron Jones Sr. time to recover from a knee injury and allowing Jordan Mason to move into a backup role this season.
On the defensive side, the Vikings could also use a steadier presence in the secondary and a possible long-term answer for the post-Harrison Smith era. That’s where Cardinals safety Budda Baker fits into the conversation.
Baker would walk in and start for Minnesota. The issue is that his contract brings plenty of financial baggage with it.
He is signed through the 2027 NFL season, with cap hits of $10.8 million this season and $19.2 million next year. Still, the fit on the field is easy to see.
He has made seven straight Pro Bowls and can handle just about anything Brian Flores asks of him. Through seven games this season, Baker has 44 tackles, five quarterback hits, four pass defenses, four tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, and an interception.
The Vikings also have a need up front after the season-ending injury to Donovan Jackson, and that makes Eagles guard Landon Dickerson another intriguing name. Minnesota missed out on Quenton Nelson, who was dealt to the Seahawks, but Dickerson could be the next-best option.
Dickerson would immediately take over at left guard, where Joe Huber is currently filling in. The 28-year-old has struggled in Philadelphia, and a change of scenery could make sense.
He has been a Pro Bowler in both 2022 and 2023, so this season’s issues look more like an outlier than a new normal. The challenge, once again, is the contract: Dickerson is under team control through 2028, with cap hits of $9.455 million this year, $13.768 million next year, and $17.79 million in 2028.
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Jauan Jennings Trade Twist Leaves Vikings With A Bigger WR Question
A deal to send Jauan Jennings back to San Francisco briefly put the Vikings in the middle of a rare midseason trade wrinkle, with Minnesota and the 49ers reportedly agreeing on terms before the move could be finalized. Jennings had signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, but his role in the offense has been limited this season, which made the possibility of a return to the Bay Area at least plausible on paper.
The twist was that the arrangement still needed Jennings approval after a video call with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, and his preference was to stay in Minnesota. For the Vikings, that leaves the broader question intact: how much more can they get from a receiver who arrived with some intrigue but has yet to become a meaningful piece of the passing game? [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Face One Big Jonathan Taylor Question After New Trade Buzz
Jonathan Taylor has suddenly become one of the biggest names to watch as the NFL trade deadline approaches, with Indianapolis signaling a willingness to move the running back if the right offer comes along. The market is already taking shape around a familiar benchmark, with the Colts looking for a package that reflects the kind of return Carolina got for Christian McCaffrey in 2022, which means multiple draft picks would likely have to be part of any serious conversation.
For Minnesota, the buzz is obvious because the Vikings have been mentioned among the teams with interest, alongside Denver, Green Bay and the Giants. Nothing has been finalized, and the asking price figures to be the real hurdle, but Taylors availability alone adds another layer to a deadline that could shape how aggressive Minnesota wants to be about adding proven talent for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Jeffersons Frustration May Put Vikings Biggest Problem Back In Focus
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Jeffersons frustration is starting to feel like more than a sideline mood, especially after a recent game in which his yardage dipped to a season low. He declined to speak to the media afterward, a small but telling detail for a player whose role is supposed to stabilize the passing game, not spotlight its problems. For a team trying to protect an unbeaten start, the bigger question is whether this is just a rough stretch or the first sign that the Vikings most important offensive issue is coming back into focus. [Read more 🡒]