Insider Names Two Vikings Vets as Key Trade Chips

The Minnesota Vikings currently sit at 3-4 after eight weeks. They travel to Detroit this weekend for a game against the Lions. Dan Campbell’s squad will be ready to go, and the NFC North rival is among the better teams across the league.

If the Vikings are going to hang onto any playoff hopes, they’ll need to pull an upset at Ford Field. That’s a tall task for J.J. McCarthy to step back into, and one he probably shouldn’t be asked to shoulder the load for.

More likely Minnesota could find themselves as sellers ahead of next week’s trade deadline. Looking to stockpile a few extra picks, they have some talent that can be parted out.

Aaron Jones may earn the MN Vikings a draft pick

Last season Aaron Jones joined the Minnesota Vikings after spending the first seven years of his career in Green Bay. Now re-upped for a second season in Minnesota, his one year deal presents an opportunity to recoup some value. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell sees the veteran running back as a logical trade chip.

Moving on from Jones might be more about saving money than anything else. He is owed just over $1 million in 2025 and has $2 million of his $10 million compensation in 2026 guaranteed, a deal the Vikings are likely to move on from this offseason. Would a team like the Chargers be willing to essentially pay $3 million to have Jones in its lineup for the rest of 2025?

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The Vikings have not leaned much on the run this season, and Jones has already missed some time. He is back healthy but has just 61 yards on 18 carries. That’s not going to generate a significant amount of interest even if a team is looking at his career-high 1,138 yards from last season.

Jones is certainly expendable for Minnesota though. They brought in Jordan Mason over the offseason and he has been as advertised. Moving Jones would remove the tandem aspect of the backfield, but if the Vikings aren’t going to compete, that carries less weight.

There are a few running back-needy teams that may just want a veteran for the stretch run. Jones doesn’t have to be the bellcow anymore, and he could be given an opportunity to go get a ring.

Moving on from Ivan Pace Jr.

After blowing up as an undrafted free agent, things have come crashing down for Ivan Pace Jr. this year. The Minnesota Vikings linebacker was benched when Blake Cashman returned, and he lost his job to journeyman veteran Eric Wilson.

It’s unlikely that Pace generates much of a return after falling out of favor in Minnesota. It is possible though, that another team thinks they can turn his slide around.

Pace, who has fallen out of the starting lineup and played just 17 defensive snaps over the past two weeks, is a restricted free agent after the season.

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If Minnesota isn’t going to start Pace, and he’s not viewed as a key depth piece this offseason, then there isn’t a great reason to keep him around. The Vikings should be looking for draft compensation and pull the trigger on the first good return they can find.

It remains to be seen how this all shakes out. The NFL trade deadline is set for November 4th at 3pm central time.