The Minnesota Vikings are heading into Sunday’s season opener against the Green Bay Packers with their eyes on the game in front of them, but the roster picture beyond Week 1 still has some unresolved edges. There are players on the 53-man roster whose long-term fit in Minnesota looks shaky, and for the front office, turning one of those names into trade value would make a lot more sense than simply letting him go for nothing.
Even though the 2026 NFL trade deadline is still two months away, there’s a real possibility that at least one Viking gets moved before September ends.
J.J. McCarthy looks like the clearest candidate.
The No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has been bumped down to QB3 entering Week 1, and the arrow hasn’t moved in the right direction since last season, when he was given the starting job but never looked comfortable in it. His 57.6 completion percentage, 11 touchdown passes against 12 interceptions, five fumbles and 27 sacks paint a rough picture.
Minnesota has shown patience, even letting Sam Darnold walk in free agency after his strong year with the team. Darnold later won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks, while McCarthy has appeared in just ten games over two seasons.
The bigger issue now is whether another team would actually part with anything to get him. Minnesota would need to shop him around and see if there’s real interest. ESPN insider Adam Schefter said on "Get Up" that it's "probably best for both sides" if he isn't traded, though a solid offer would still be hard for general manager Nolan Teasley to ignore.
Jordan Addison is another name that belongs in the conversation, even if moving him would be a much bigger surprise. He remains a valuable pass catcher, but the contract situation makes him worth watching.
Addison is in the final year of his rookie deal, and Minnesota has already picked up his fifth-year option, which will push his cost to about $18 million in 2027, according to Spotrac. If the Vikings could get trade compensation while avoiding that cap hit, it would at least force a serious discussion.
Addison’s off-field history is part of the equation too. In 2024, he had a major traffic violation, and he was arrested again in 2024 on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The Vikings would likely prefer to keep him, but wide receivers can bring back strong returns, and other receivers have been landing expensive extensions lately. That leaves Minnesota with a simple question: is Addison worth the investment?
Ivan Pace also fits into the trade watch, though for a different reason. It was a bit of a surprise that he survived roster cuts after losing his starting job last season and falling behind Eric Wilson.
He was already the third interior linebacker on the depth chart, and once Minnesota drafted Jake Golday in the second round, Pace’s path looked even narrower. Still, he made the 53-man roster and will now compete with the rookie for backup snaps.
Pace has logged nearly 1,500 defensive snaps since joining the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and that kind of experience could appeal to other teams looking for depth or even a starter. Minnesota, meanwhile, will be focused on developing Golday, which could squeeze Pace’s role even more. If the Vikings want to maximize what they can get for him, any deal would need to come soon, because in the NFL, recent production carries weight and value can fade fast.
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