Well, the team has two close losses in a row now and there are a lot of fans who have jumped off the bandwagon. Adversity was sure to come this season and now the team has a chance to respond. I believe they will continue to battle and will, in fact, win more games this season. The most pressing issues now are how to replace Christian Darrisaw, how to get better at defensive tackle, and is there a cornerback that they can add that will help the coverages. I think it might actually be a linebacker that can cover that they need more than another cornerback. But, with only a first and a likely 3rd round compensatory pick next year the team is not going to be able to add much via the draft unless they get lucky and hit on mid to late round picks.

First thing is adding another offensive tackle.

Cam Robinson’s name has been floated as a trade candidate for many teams but he is due another 8M (or so) this season, will be a free agent next season, and the Jaguars may want at least a 3rd or conditional 4th. That is too steep for me.

Walker Little is also on the Jaguars and has started at left tackle before losing his job to Robinson. He is due another 800K or so this season, will be a free agent next season, and probably wants to go elsewhere next season. He might be had for 5th while getting back a 7th. Ryan Clady was traded from Denver to the Jets for a 5th round pick but the Jets got back a 7th. I could live with that for Little.

David Bakhtiari seems like a great candidate but he has only played in 13 games since the start of the 2021 season. he also probably wont play for peanuts. I think 5M would be the minimum. The team might try to be cute and give him less with playing time incentives to get to 5M but that would be foolish. Just spend the dough if he is interested and ready to go. There is a risk that he could have more flare-ups though. Is it worth it?

DJ Humphries might be good for depth or to rotate with Quessenberry.

If it were me, I would try to get Walker Little and roll with him, Quessenberry, and Rouse.

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Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Trade? Start the rookie? Vikings have options to replace Christian Darrisaw

Trade for Cam Robinson

Robinson, twice franchise-tagged by Jacksonville, is 29 years old and in the final year of his contract. Minnesota could try and acquire Robinson in a trade and have a starting-caliber tackle on the left side. It might be the only way the Vikings don’t miss too much of a beat without Darrisaw. He might cost a high draft pick and he might be a rental. Would the Vikings entertain re-signing him if they are confident that Darrisaw will be good to go in 2025?

Give rookie Walter Rouse a chance

Head coach Kevin O’Connell raved about Rouse during training camp and the preseason. He’s a mammoth person at 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds. The Vikings even said they’d consider playing him at guard because of his athleticism, but now may be the time to activate him and see what he can do. Keep in mind that the Rams just beat the Vikings despite having a rookie sixth-round pick starting at center.

Move Blake Brandel to left tackle

Brandel has started every game at left guard this season and his only action last season was at right guard. But in 2022 he worked in at left tackle in Weeks 10-14 when Darrisaw was dealing with concussion issues. It didn’t go well, as he allowed 13 pressures and seven sacks while also getting flagged for three penalties in those five games.

But maybe Brandel is better suited two years later to give it another go? If he’s the best option, the Vikings could slide Dalton Risner to left guard as he’s expected to be ready to make his season debut next Sunday against the Colts. That’s Risner’s natural position.

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David Bakhtiari is the perfect Vikings replacement for Christian Darrisaw

David Bakhtiari was a five-time All-Pro tackle for the Packers before he suffered a torn ACL on New Year’s Eve 2020. He played in just one game in 2021, 11 games in 2022 and then one game in 2023 before ongoing issues with the knee knocked him down again.

Like Darrisaw, Bakhtiari had more than just an ACL tear.

“Everyone knows I tore my ACL. What people don’t know is that it wasn’t an isolated tear,” Bakhtiari told Cheesehead TV in January 2022. “Any time there’s an ACL there can always be other complications. I had a little bit of my meniscus, which wasn’t a big deal. And I got a little bit of cartilage. There was a lot going on.”

Bakhtiari’s case may have been anomalous. His return to the field was slowed by a persistent need to drain fluid from his surgically-repaired knee. He described the fluid feeling like a “water balloon” in his knee, at one point draining more than five ounces of fluid, which Packers doctors told him was a team record.

He came back in 2022 and played in 11 games. He seemed no worse for wear from a performance standpoint because he didn’t allow a sack and was charged by Pro Football Focus for only 10 QB pressures allowed all season.

Bakhtiari had an offseason without surgery was primed for big things in 2023 before more issues with his reconstructed knee developed. This time, it wasn’t his ACL or MCL. It wasn’t even cartilage. It was damage to the femoral condyles, which are two rounded bumps at the bottom of the femur that help form the knee joint. That, too, had been damaged in his initial injury on Dec. 31, 2020.

He underwent another season-ending surgery and he hasn’t played since. But he’s out there, lurking in free agency and probably itching to latch on with a contender. He said in June that he has more gas in the tank and coming to Minnesota would reunite him with his former teammate, running back Aaron Jones.

Bakhtiari is an elite, readymade option to help prevent the Vikings from dropping off without Darrisaw. Not only that, but he can help guide Darrisaw through the early part of the ACL/MCL storm. It’s a match made in heaven and the Vikings need to make the call if they haven’t already.

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Will Vikings look to trade for left tackle to replace injured Christian Darrisaw?

The top offensive tackles rumored to be available at the trade deadline include Cornelius Lucas of the Washington Commanders and Cam Robinson (and swing tackle Walker Little) of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lucas could actually make some sense as a cheaper, veteran option that could at least mix in should Quessenberry struggle.

But a Vikings trade for a left tackle is not happening.

Startable players at that position rarely come available at the trade deadline. Teams either don’t want to give up players at such a premium position, or the players who do come available are paid too much — like Robinison’s $18 million average annual salary — to make sense for a contending team to justify midseason.

The other side of the coin: Adding a left tackle via trade will cost significant draft capital, and the Vikings are currently a team short on 2025 picks. They have three total draft selections next year, a first and two fifth-rounders. That doesn’t leave a ton of room for negotiating deals at the deadline.

The Vikings are more likely to work out some veteran free agents. They could kick the tires on former Green Bay Packers star David Bakhtiari, who’s now 33, or Donovan Smith, 31, who started at left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in last year’s Super Bowl.

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5 free agent offensive tackles Vikings could explore in wake of Christian Darrisaw injury

No. 1: David Bakhtiari

No. 2: Donovan Smith

Smith started for the Kansas City Chiefs in last year’s Super Bowl, and also protected Tom Brady’s blindside during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ championship run in 2020.

The Chiefs felt good enough about second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia and 2023 third-round pick Wanya Morris to let Smith walk in free agency, but the 31-year-old remains without a team for 2024.

No. 3: D.J. Humphries

The former first-round pick started every game for the Arizona Cardinals last season before suffering a torn ACL in Week 17. Humphries would need to prove he’s fully recovered from the injury, but he’s already gotten looks from other teams. The New York Giants, who recently lost All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas to a season-ending Lisfranc injury, brought Humphries in for a workout on Tuesday.

No. 4: Riley Reiff

He’s a 35-year-old veteran, but if the Vikings are looking for a serviceable backup for Quessenberry, Reiff is a name to watch.

The former first-round pick of the Detroit Lions has now played for five NFL teams, most recently for Bill Belichick’s Patriots in 2023. He was expected to be starter for New England, but he opened the season on injured reserve, played in one game, and landed back on IR two weeks later.

No. 5: Charles Leno Jr.

Leno, 32. was an effective starting left tackle for the Washington Commanders last season, ranking as the 28th-best tackle in the NFL, per PFF’s grading system, before a calf injury ended his season in Week 15.

He underwent hip surgery this offseason, which is likely why he remains unsigned in 2024. Conditioning at this point could be a concern, but the veteran could fill a reserve role with the chops to step in as a starter if called upon.

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Zulgad: Here we go again: Vikings’ once-promising season dealt significant blow with Christian Darrisaw injury

David Quessenberry struggled after replacing Darrisaw in the second half on Thursday. The 34-year-old has played for four teams over seven NFL seasons, including the past two with the Vikings, and started 30 of the 74 games in which he has appeared.

A week ago, there was talk about the Vikings adding a defensive tackle or cornerback before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. The Vikings were preparing to play host to the Lions in a battle for first place in the NFC North and a franchise that seemed poised to take a step to being a legitimate contender in 2025, appeared to be a year ahead of schedule.

That’s the issue with Darrisaw’s injury: There’s no good replacement. The best the Vikings can hope for is adequate and that isn’t exactly ideal considering quarterback San Darnold’s tendency to hold onto the football.

There’s no trade the Vikings are going to make that’s going to solve the issue and any temptation to make a significant deal before the trade deadline to provide immediate help for the defense also might be shelved.

A damper has been put on what appeared to be a promising season and no matter how much O’Connell talks about overcoming adversity, the loss of Darrisaw might be too much for his team to overcome.

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Local Insider Identifies Two Intriguing Minnesota Vikings Trade Targets

Two Minnesota Vikings trade targets that one team insider is watching

But who exactly do the Vikings have their eyes on? According to Alec Lewis (The Athletic), Kwesi & Co are shopping hard for defensive tackles, cornerbacks and offensive guards. Lewis brought names to the table, too… three for each position listed. I’m not going to dive into all nine of his Vikings trade targets, but it’s a great read, if you want to.

Two Minnesota Vikings trade targets that one team insider is watching

But who exactly do the Vikings have their eyes on? According to Alec Lewis (The Athletic), Kwesi & Co are shopping hard for defensive tackles, cornerbacks and offensive guards. Lewis brought names to the table, too… three for each position listed. I’m not going to dive into all nine of his Vikings trade targets, but it’s a great read, if you want to.

A deeper look into Calais Campbell tells us why Lewis loves the fit and why he is probably hearing rumblings behind the scenes, that the Minnesota Vikings have interest. He is way older (and way cheaper) than what the other two options are (no, none of them are Dexter Lawrence).

Not only that, but you saw the hint above, at Campbell’s productivity this season. I mean, this dude has an 84.8 PFF grade (194 snaps), which is good for 5th among all NFL defensive linemen. He is also top 10 in PFF pass rush grade (78.4) and run defense grade (75.3).

Brady Christensen – Panthers – 28 y/o

The most intriguing of these options might be Christensen, who is eligible to be a free agent after this season. He is versatile, having played both tackle, guard and center. In previous seasons, he has also proven to be effective both in pass protection and as a run blocker.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

I love this one. The Carolina Panthers are really bad, which is why we’ve already seen rumors linking current Panther (former Viking) WR Adam Thielen, to his hometown team. But Brady Christensen would solve just about every problem the Minnesota Vikings currently have on their offensive line, both now and in the future.

The 2021 3rd round pick currently grades out at 80.5 in run block and 68.1 in pass block, both far superior to Ed Ingram. His overall 79.6 PFF grade is 5th among all centers in the NFL. But Christensen can play more than just center, he can also play guard, which is probably where he makes the most sense in Minnesota.

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Vikings snap counts and PFF grades vs. Rams: Dallas Turner left out again

Top 5 PFF grades on offense (min. 20 snaps)

1. Jefferson — 87.7

2. Darnold — 83.4

3. Jones — 73.2

4. O’Neill — 71.6

5. Mundt — 64.7

The lowest grades on the Vikings’ offense went to Nailor (42.0) and Bradbury (52.3). Brandel and Quessenberry were also a bit shaky in pass protection. Ingram was mostly fine, so we’ll see if he did enough to stave off a possible switch to Dalton Risner in Week 9.

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Top 5 PFF grades on defense (min. 20 snaps)

1. Greenard — 89.8

2. Murphy — 80.0

3. Tillery —71.8

4. Van Ginkel — 71.0

5. Phillips — 66.5

Sub-50 grades went to Metellus, Gilmore, Jones, and Griffin. Gilmore was charged by PFF with allowing a season-high 98 yards in coverage. Outside of Murphy, everyone else in the secondary earned poor coverage grades.

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Vikings Week 8 snap counts: Dallas Turner barely plays while Rams’ Jared Verse continues to dominate

Los Angeles Rams pass rusher Jared Verse padded his resume for Defensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday night, notching his first career multi-sack game in a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium.

Vikings rookie Dallas Turner, selected two spots before Verse in the 2024 NFL Draft, continues to head in the opposite direction.

Dallas Turner defensive snap counts

Week 1 at N.Y. Giants 35

Week 2 vs. San Francisco 49ers 18

Week 4 at Green Bay Packers 11

Week 5 vs. New York Jets 13

Week 7 vs. Detroit Lions 5

Week 8 at Los Angeles Rams 3

The Vikings gave up a haul to move up and draft Turner No. 17 overall in April. They traded pick No. 23 — which the Jacksonville Jaguars used to select budding superstar WR Brian Thomas Jr. — and a 2024 fifth-rounder (RB Keilan Robinson), as well as third- and fourth-round picks in 2025 for the former Alabama star.

The Rams wound up staying put and drafting Verse at No. 19. He’s been a force in the NFL since Day 1, playing at least 41 snaps in every game this season. He entered Week 8 with a league-leading 23.6% pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats.

Laiatu Latu, another rookie EDGE drafted No. 15 overall by the Indianapolis Colts, has seen a healthy weekly snap share himself while racking up 15 total pressures and two sacks on the season.

The Vikings are among the NFL leaders in total sacks, but they’re also PFF’s sixth-worst graded pass rushing team. Turner should be able to help in that area, but he clearly hasn’t earned extended reps in the eyes of defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

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Identifying three key issues with Vikings’ defense after another loss

1. Blake Cashman’s absence

Is Cashman the most valuable player on the Vikings’ defense? Considering how they’ve played without him, he might be. Over the first five games, the former Gopher was outstanding at every aspect of playing linebacker; he’s their best coverage player at that position, he defends the run well, and he’s an effective blitzer. But a turf toe issue has sidelined him since the London game, forcing Ivan Pace Jr. into a full-time role. And while Pace is a lightning bolt coming downhill, he just isn’t nearly on the same level as Cashman in terms of his coverage ability.

2. A quiet pass rush outside of Jonathan Greenard

3. Shaky cornerback play

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Vikings’ $4 Million Sunken Starter Deemed Trade Chip

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans is the odd man out of the team’s cornerback corps and could be on the move at the trade deadline, according to ESPN beat reporter Kevin Seifert.

“Evans started two games as a rookie in 2022 and 15 last season, but he is now buried on the depth chart behind veterans Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaquill Griffin,” Seifert wrote in an October 23 trade deadline primer. “At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, he has the kind of size that teams covet at the position. The Vikings aren’t necessarily looking to move him, and he could be elevated based on injuries, but at the moment there isn’t a clear path for him to get on the field.”

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Vikings picked to pursue $30 million Broncos starter at trade deadline to bolster D-line

But if Minnesota decides to go all-in on a Super Bowl run in 2024, NFL analyst Ben Solak of ESPN sees a potential fit in Denver Broncos starting defensive tackle D.J. Jones.

Here’s why Solak believes a Vikings trade for Jones would make sense:

Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones. Jones has been a handy player for a quality Broncos defense, so I’m not sure how gettable he is right now — but he is a veteran in the last year of his deal, so it’s worth making the call. Vikings fans are hoping for Jeffery Simmons or Dexter Lawrence II, but Jones would give them the stout and reliable nose tackle play they need at a fraction of the cost. — Solak

While it’s definitely possible that the Broncos would take one of Minnesota’s fifth-rounders in 2025 in exchange for Jones, it’s tough to see this deal making sense for the Vikings.

Jones would enter the defensive tackle rotation and could certainly help Minnesota’s interior pass rush. He’s the 15th-highest graded pass rusher in the league among defensive tackles, per PFF.

The sticking point here is the contract, which expires at the end of this season. Trading for Jones only makes sense if you also plan to extend him. Even if the Vikings love the player, they could hold onto their draft pick and make him a priority in 2025 free agency.

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The Vikings have a serious problem at a position once deemed a strength

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Uh Oh… Vikings WR Jordan Addison Appears Unhappy

After enjoying one of the best wide receiver rookie seasons in franchise history (see below), Addison’s 2024 campaign has not seen the same kind of success. Through five games played in 2024, Addison hasn’t been nearly as noticeable or proficient.

So far this season, the now 22-year-old has quietly amassed just 14 catches on 23 targets, for 1 touchdown. According to Pro-Football Reference, Addison’s success rate this season, when targeted, is an ugly 43.5%.

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Yore Mock

Trade

Trade Partner: Panthers

Sent: 2025 1st, Akayleb Evans CB, 2026 3rd

Received: Jaycee Horn CB, PICK: 66 RND: 3

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Trade Partner: Jaguars

Sent: PICK: 168 RND: 5

Received: Walker Little OT, PICK: 215 RND: 7

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Trade Partner: Chiefs

Sent: PICK: 66 RND: 3

Received PICK: 70 RND: 3, PICK: 167 RND: 5

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Trade Partner: Jets

Sent: PICK: 70 RND: 3

Received PICK: 75 RND: 3, PICK: 183 RND: 6

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PICK: 75 RND: 3 Dontay Corleone DT Cincinnati 6’1” 320

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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PICK: 97 RND: 3 Jaeden Roberts OG Alabama 6’5” 310

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

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PICK: 140 RND: 5 DJ Giddens RB Kansas State 6’0” 212

Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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PICK: 167 RND: 5 Gunnar Helm TE Texas 6’5” 250

Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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PICK: 183 RND: 6 Alfred Collins DL Texas 6’5” 320

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

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PICK: 215 RND: 7 Makari Paige S Michigan 6’4” 208

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

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PICK: 241 RND: 7 David Walker EDGE Central Arkansas 6’2” 260

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Crazy right? Trade the 2025 first and a 2026 3rd to get a young corner and a 2025 3rd? Is that too much or not enough? Considering Horn’s injury history it is borderline too much but I think it is worth the shot. The Little trade probably does not happen but in this fantasy it does.

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