Time is tight for the Vikings, and the trade deadline is staring them down Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT. If general manager Nolan Teasley wants to add help, the clock is the biggest opponent in the building.
Running back has been one of the loudest positions in the rumor mill for Minnesota. Jonathan Taylor, Tony Pollard, and Breece Hall have all been floated as names fans would love to see in purple. But the Jets may have already shut the door on the biggest one.
According to ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter, New York has told teams it does not intend to trade Hall, even though clubs have called about his availability. That leaves the Vikings looking elsewhere, and Braelon Allen stands out as the more realistic swing.
The 22-year-old fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has quietly put together the kind of profile that should grab Minnesota’s attention. He would not just be a depth piece. He could step into a real role right away and pair with Jordan Mason to give the Vikings a more dynamic backfield.
Allen got his chance when Hall went down with a quadriceps injury in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions. During the five-week stretch Hall missed, Allen handled 93 carries for 504 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 5.42 yards per carry, posted an 80.4 Pro Football Focus grade that ranks ninth among 51 qualifying halfbacks this season, forced 27 missed tackles, and averaged 3.7 yards after contact.
When Hall returned in Week 9, the usage told its own story. Hall logged 19 opportunities, including 15 carries and four targets, over 27 offensive snaps. Allen still saw 10 opportunities, eight carries and two targets, even though he played 10 more snaps than Hall.
That production, plus his age and team-friendly contract situation, makes Allen the name to watch if Minnesota wants to keep exploring the Jets as a trade partner. His cap hit is set at $1.3 million in 2027, and with New York already giving Hall a $45.75 million extension in May, another big running back deal may not be in the cards anytime soon.
With Hall back and the Jets already committed to him, Allen looks like the back who could actually be pried loose. And if the Vikings are serious about adding a runner before the deadline, he may be the one worth chasing.
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Vikings Trade Deadline Pressure Just Spiked After Carson Wentz Struggled
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Kevin OConnell was asked afterward about the deadline, but he pushed those decisions toward general manager Nolan Teasley as the clock keeps ticking. With the offense sputtering and the Vikings unable to keep pace, the front office now has to weigh whether this roster needs a move before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]