Vikings at the NFL trade deadline: Teair Tart, Chase Young and 6 others they could target

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For a moment, let’s drift back in time. To November of last year, a few days before the NFL trade deadline.

At the time, the Minnesota Vikings were 6-1 and already up multiple games in the NFC North. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell were mapping out the future of the roster. Tight end Irv Smith Jr. had just injured his ankle against the Arizona Cardinals.

Accounting for all of these factors, the Vikings took a swing. They acquired an accomplished tight end, T.J. Hockenson, who could not only alter the team’s offense in the present but also fit what the franchise was building for the future. The move aligned with the spirit of the “competitive rebuild”: win now, win later.

The Vikings are in a different position this season. They are 3-4 and down multiple games in the NFC North. Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell are in their second seasons. There is no obvious hole, no recently injured player with a gap needing to be filled.

That said, the team still has needs. The future of the edge rusher position is uncertain. The same can be said for defensive tackle. The cornerbacks room is also light. Minnesota is going to need all of the draft capital it can get, but there are some intriguing options out there who could be contributors this season and beyond.

Here are four sensible names the Vikings could pursue — plus four bigger swings:

Right player, right price?

Chauncey Golston, DT, Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are likely to be buyers because, well, they are the Cowboys. That said, they are well stocked up the middle on their defensive front. Osa Odighizuwa and Jonathan Hankins have played most of the snaps at defensive tackle, and 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith is waiting in the wings.

That leaves two names that could be on the trade block: Neville Gallimore and Golston. Both were third-round picks, but neither has established himself as a consistent producer. Though Gallimore is more of a traditional three-technique, Golston is a pass-rush type. He has a year remaining on his rookie contract and can rush the passer from the inside. The way defensive coordinator Brian Flores likes to squeeze the skills out of players, and with edge rusher Marcus Davenport sidelined indefinitely, Golston could be a low-cost add to bring some juice to the pressure unit.

Isaac Yiadom, CB, Saints

Cornerback remains a need for the Vikings in the long term. Byron Murphy Jr. has held his own, matching receivers on the outside in base personnel and on the inside in nickel personnel. Second-year vet Akayleb Evans has been serviceable. The position remains light behind those two, even if Andrew Booth Jr. and Mekhi Blackmon have filled in admirably at times.

Yiadom is an unheralded 27-year-old who has bounced around since he was a third-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2018. He performed well enough in training camp for the New Orleans Saints to add him to their active roster, and although he has played sparingly behind Marcus Lattimore and Alontae Taylor, he has started two games. He succeeded in both, tallying four pass breakups and an interception. Add him to Flores’ defense, and he could bring even tighter man coverage.

ISAAC. YIADOM.

HUGE INT 41 seconds before half

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/AgCon2WTdb

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 1, 2023

Donte Jackson, CB, Panthers

The Carolina Panthers appear to be open for business. Brian Burns is a hot name — and, boy, would he be a nice addition — but Jackson fits with the cornerback theme. Like Yiadom, he is 27. And like Yiadom, Jackson is not on the books for much money this season. In fact, as a byproduct of his restructured deal, his base salary is only $1.09 million.

Jackson, however, has not had such a successful season; his Pro Football Focus grade is the lowest of his career (50.8). Still, Jackson would add low-cost experience to a position group that could use it.

Kristian Fulton, CB, Titans

This would be a bet on upside. Fulton was a second-round pick in 2020 and has started 31 games with varying levels of success. This season, he has struggled in coverage. He is allowing a 133.2 passer rating when targeted.

Because the Titans seem to be in the market to move players — and because Fulton is in the final year of his rookie deal — why not take a stab before he hits free agency and hope a change of scenery makes a difference?

Doesn’t hurt to dream

Teair Tart, DT, Titans

The interior of the Vikings’ defensive line deserves praise for the way it has stopped the run this season. Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard have been key in limiting opposing offenses to a mere 3.6 yards per carry on the ground. Still, there’s no overwhelming presence on the interior for this team, and the Vikings are going to have to find one somewhere.

Having moved Kevin Byard, who’s to say Tart won’t be the next domino to fall for the Tennessee Titans? The 26-year-old is playing on a $4.3 million tender and could be in the market for an extension. The Vikings know him well, considering he was thrown out of a joint practice at the TCO Performance Center during training camp. Acquiring him would take a lot — both draft capital and actual capital — but with what he’s already put on tape, it might be worth it.

Carl Lawson, edge, Jets

Edge rusher is another position of need for Minnesota. Danielle Hunter is in line for a massive extension, and the Vikings were not willing to pay him last offseason. There’s always a chance that changes, but if it doesn’t, the Vikings will be left with a depleted edge rushers room.

Lawson is 28 years old, which might prevent Minnesota from taking a swing, but the New York Jets seem prepared to offload him. He has played only 24 percent of their defensive snaps and was a healthy scratch in Week 5. The Vikings could buy low, hoping that a training camp back injury is partially why Lawson has sputtered out of the gate.

Jaylon Johnson, CB, Bears

We’re entering hot and spicy territory here. The first hurdle is that this would entail Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles’ trading within the division to the Vikings. Even though the Detroit Lions’ Brad Holmes has proved to be an amicable trade partner, this feels a little more far-fetched.

Then there’s the fact Johnson would likely come at a major cost. Among the 64 cornerbacks who have played at least 50 percent of their team’s snaps, Johnson ranks first in coverage grade, according to PFF. Add in his age (24), size (6 feet, 196 pounds) and man-coverage ability, and you have almost a perfect fit for what Flores wants. Minnesota needs its high-end draft capital, and the team still has to sign wide receiver Justin Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw to long-term deals, but Johnson is an intriguing blue-chip name.

Chase Young, edge, Commanders

Why not save the best for last? We already touched on the Vikings’ edge rushers room. It’s lacking in budding talent.

Young would be a swing for the fences both in the present and future. He is in line to hit free agency at the end of the season, so an extension would likely accompany a trade.

Young’s overall value is complex in that he has only played 33 games over the last four seasons. In 2023, he has been the elite player he was drafted to be. He ranks fourth among 58 qualified edge rushers with 35 pressures. His pass-rush win rate ranks fifth. When healthy, he is one of the most talented edges in football. The Washington Commanders are in line for a 2025 third-round compensatory pick for Young, so any potential deal would likely have to include more than that.

No. 2 on the day for 99

📺 #WASvsNYG: CBS pic.twitter.com/ROShTTSkwv

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 22, 2023

(Photo of Teair Tart: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

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