While I believe most Vikings fans are confident that the team will win this week, there still should be some concern. If the defense is unable to bring any pressure on Joe Flacco similar to how they were unable to pressure Matthew Stafford, Flacco is capable of carving up the mediocre secondary. I would not be overly confident. I am picking the Vikings to win but I think it will be tougher than expected. What do you think?

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Minnesota Vikings News and Links

NFL Expert Picks: Vikings Favored Against Colts on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Vikings 28, Colts 24 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

The Vikings are home after losing to the Rams on the road, while the Colts are playing a second straight road game. Joe Flacco will take over as the starter for the Colts, which is probably the right thing in the short term. How he handles the Vikings pressure looks will be the key here. I think Jonathan Taylor will keep them in the game, but the Vikings win it with a late score.

Vikings 30, Colts 24 – Staff, Bleacher Report

Vikings 27, Colts 19 – Bill Bender, Sporting News

Vikings 27, Colts 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

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Kevin O’Connell knows Vikings’ passing game needs to speed up a bit

But if there’s one thing the Vikings’ passing game needs to improve upon, it’s getting the ball out quickly. Darnold’s average time with the ball across all dropbacks is 3.14 seconds (per PFF), which trails only Brock Purdy. He’s held it for 2.93 seconds on dropbacks that end in a pass attempt, the highest mark in the league. And he’s getting the ball out in under 2.5 seconds just 32.6 percent of the time, which is second-lowest behind the recently-benched Anthony Richardson.

“It’s critical that we don’t build a mentality around relying on (his movement ability),” O’Connell said to KFAN’s Paul Allen this week. “Because then that’s where you can really see some plays where Sam is trying to create so much that we can have some pretty big negatives. We had a 13-yard loss on a sack (against the Rams), we had another significant loss on a play-pass sack. I just think it’s important that we still build within the confines of rhythm, timing. I’d like to try to get the ball to our playmakers in space, Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, it’ll be great to have 87 (T.J. Hockenson) roaming the middle of the field.”

“I’m excited to see Sam continue to do what he’s done, which is move the team and make some high, high-quality throws,” O’Connell said. “I think we mix that in with a little bit more of a transition-type, fast-break offense, where we can get the ball out, get the ball in space to our guys, and not ask Sam to hold the ball in that pocket. Play with that rhythm, timing, decision-making that I think has really gotten him to a pretty unique place. I think he’s fourth in the league in quarterback rating and improving every single week. And my expectation is that’s gonna continue to happen throughout the season. I’ve been really proud of Sam.”

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Trade Proposal Nets Vikings Versatile $13 Million CB for 5th-Round Pick

Matt Verderame and Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated authored a trade pitch on Wednesday, October 30, in which the Vikings ship a fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for former first-round cornerback Greg Newsome II.

“The Vikings’ stout defense was a big reason why the team jumped out to a 5–0 start before losing the past two games. But Brian Flores’s defense is allowing 263.3 passing yards per game, one of the downsides of being a blitz-heavy team,” the two SI reporters wrote. “Perhaps the Browns are ready to break up their talented secondary amid a losing season and salary cap issues. Newsome, a 2021 first-round pick, can play on the inside and outside. He would help improve Minnesota’s pass defense, which would allow Flores to continue being an aggressive play-caller.”

Namely, the cornerback is in the fourth year of his rookie contract and Cleveland has already exercised its fifth-year option on the deal, which pays Newsome $13.4 million in 2025. To keep him around beyond free agency, which Newsome will hit in March 2026, Cleveland will either need to extend him on a long-term contract or utilize the valuable franchise tag a little over a year from now to keep him under contract.

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Vikings Preparing for Bold Move at Trade Deadline, Insider Says

Trading for Robinson, a rest-of-season rental before he reaches 2025 free agency, sent the message that Minnesota is not letting its 5-2 start to the season wash away after losing Christian Darrisaw for the season.

Now, Minnesota has $11.5 million in cap space to play with heading into the November 5 trade deadline — ample room to add one or two more quality contributors.

Defensive tackle and cornerback are two positions the Vikings should address at the trade deadline — and there are expectations they will remain aggressive after how fast they moved on Robinson.

“I’ll be surprised if they don’t do anything else,” KSTP’s Darren Wolfson told SKOR North on October 31. “They view the NFC being pretty darn wide open… the way they view it internally, they can still make a run in January.”

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Proposed Vikings blockbuster sends star Panthers corner to Minnesota at deadline

Last weekend, Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com urged the Vikings to acquire star Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn for a pair of 2026 draft picks — a second and a conditional fourth.

Minnesota’s recent trade for left tackle Cam Robinson did little to sway Benjamin’s opinion.

“Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done an admirable job addressing holes while retaining premium draft capital so far,” Benjamin wrote, “ensuring the Vikings’ surprisingly competitive team stays in the NFC North hunt. Horn would represent a bolder swing, likely requiring a higher pick or two, but the Carolina Panthers haven’t yet locked up their former first-rounder, and his long-term upside would be welcome in an aging, struggling Vikings cornerback room.”

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5 players worth trading the Vikings’ first-round pick (and maybe more) for

Jets CB D.J. Reed

The Vikings saw firsthand how good Reed is when they played the Jets in London. The 5’9” veteran is one of the stickiest cornerbacks in the NFL, ranking third in PFF grade among corners with at least 200 snaps played. Opposing quarterbacks have a 63.8 passer rating when throwing at his coverage assignment. He’s a legitimate No. 1 corner who is approaching his 28th birthday.

Reed is a free agent after this season and plays on a 2-6 Jets team that might want to consider entering rebuild mode amid a highly disappointing season. If I’m the Vikings, I’d trade my late first-rounder to get Reed and then immediately sign him to a big-time contract extension. He’s that good

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn

Another option the Vikings could consider at cornerback is Horn, the No. 8 overall pick in 2021. He’s still on his rookie contract and has a fifth-year option in 2025. Horn has been a very good player for Carolina when healthy, but injuries have limited him to 30 games in 3.5 seasons. He’s healthy right now and producing at a high level.

Saints CB Marshon Lattimore

Titans DT Jeffery Simmons

Giants DT Dexter Lawrence

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5 Bold Predictions for the 2024 NFL Trade Deadline

Cowboys Abandon All-in Approach, Sell at Deadline

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NFL trade rumors: 10 more players most likely to be traded at the 2024 deadline

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Patriots Urged to Add Vikings Young Star

Jordy McElroy of Patriots Wire has suggested one intriguing trade that would bring in a potential star at the wide receiver position. He thinks Minnesota Vikings second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison could be a perfect trade deadline target.

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QB Sam Darnold Predicted to Leave Vikings for NFC Rival

Bleacher Report considers it a forgone conclusion that Darnold will leave for the New York Giants and pass the reins to J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota.

At this rate, New York will likely move on from Daniel Jones in the offseason and look for a new quarterback. While the front office might want to draft someone, it remains to be seen if the club will have a high enough draft pick to get one or the guy it wants. So, the idea of bringing in a relatively young free agent might be an intriguing option,” Bleacher Report’s Week 9 scouting report reads. “Darnold will be just 28 years old in June and has been playing his best ball so far this season. Plus, it helps that he has experience dealing with the New York media circus and won’t be a wide-eyed 21-year-old this time.”

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Yore Mock

Trade Recap

Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 1, Pick 27, 2025: Round 5, Pick 172

Buffalo Receives: 2025: Round 1, Pick 26

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Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 1, Pick 32, 2025: Round 3, Pick 96

Kansas City Receives: 2025: Round 1, Pick 27

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Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 2, Pick 37, 2025: Round 4, Pick 104

Las Vegas Receives: 2025: Round 1, Pick 32

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Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 2, Pick 39, 2025: Round 5, Pick 154

New York Receives: 2025: Round 2, Pick 37

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Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 3, Pick 81, 2025: Round 5, Pick 153

Tampa Bay Receives: 2025: Round 3, Pick 96, 2025: Round 4, Pick 104

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Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 4, Pick 102, 2025: Round 5, Pick 159

Carolina Receives: 2025: Round 3, Pick 97

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Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 4, Pick 131, 2025: Round 6, Pick 182

Washington Receives: 2025: Round 5, Pick 141, 2025: Round 5, Pick 162

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Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 6, Pick 190, 2025: Round 7, Pick 228

Detroit Receives: 2025: Round 6, Pick 182

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39. L.T. Overton DL Alabama 6’3” 283

Set Number: X164619

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81. Omaar Norman-Lott DL Tennessee 6’3” 315

Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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102. Jaeden Roberts IOL Alabama 6’5” 316

Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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131. Kaleb Johnson RB Iowa 6’0” 225

Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

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153. Grey Zabel OT North Dakota State 6’6” 305

Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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154. Kyren Lacy WR LSU 6’2” 213

Photo by LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images

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159. Andrew Mukuba S Texas 6’0” 190

Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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172. Tommi Hill CB Nebraska 6’0” 205

Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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190. Hunter Wohler S Wisconsin 6’2” 218

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

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228. Oronde Gadsden II TE Syracuse 6’5” 236

Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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245. Francisco Mauigoa LB Miami (FL) 6’3” 230

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

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