The Minnesota Vikings have won two straight and are currently in the last NFC playoff spot, but that doesn’t change their position as sellers at the NFL trade deadline – at least according to one NFL analyst. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says that even with a win on Sunday against the Packers, he doesn’t expect the Vikings to change their presumed course for this season.
Breer points out that this year was always set up to be a “reset year” with the team taking on millions in dead cap and moving on from established veterans like Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen. Breer goes on to mention that this likely means the Vikings would still be listening to offers for their premier bargaining chip – edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
Hunter is currently having one of the best seasons of his career, leading the league in both sacks and tackles for loss. However, Breer cautions that it may be harder to move Hunter, as he will need a new contract and won’t come cheap.
Breer also notes that the asking price has likely gone up, saying that at one point a deal would have likely been done for only a third-round pick, but that’s likely not the case anymore.
Hunter isn’t the only Vikings player that teams may be interested in at the NFL trade deadline, either, according to Breer. He goes on to mention that Jordan Hicks could make a nice addition to any team who is looking for a leader in their linebacker corps.
Breer is less bullish on the prospect of the Vikings moving Kirk Cousins – who does have a no-trade clause – saying that he would be “stunned” if they entertained moving Cousins “at this point”.
