Local Insider Identifies Two Intriguing Minnesota Vikings Trade Targets

The Minnesota Vikings will play the Los Angeles Rams tonight on Thursday Night Football, looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season, last week. It’s a big game, too. A win would put them right back on track in the NFC Championship conversation.

A loss would send Vikings fans into panic mode, and national pundits into “Minnesota pretender” mode, faster than ice is made in mid-January. Meanwhile, hanging over tonight’s game is the NFL Trade Deadline, which is less than two weeks away (November 5)

The Minnesota Vikings are going to be buyers. They have made that very clear to just about any NFL insider that has checked in on their deadline plans. Darren Wolfson (SKOR North) went as far to say he expects a “splash” move, even.

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.

There were a couple of names on Lewis’ that standout to him, over the others’ at their position group. Two players he thinks seem more likely to land in MN than the other seven names listed.

He did not give a leg up to any of the three CBs he names as possible targets (Jonathan Jones, Greg Newsome II or Marshon Lattimore). Cost and role will be the question, at that position. But at both DT and G, Alec has two targets who make sense above the others.

Calais Campbell – Dolphins – 38 y/o

Maybe the most enticing name here is Campbell, the ageless wonder who at 38 has a higher pressure rate than even Dexter Lawrence II. Adding the former All-Pro to a defense already full of them (Harrison Smith and Stephon Gilmore) would generate a different level of fear in offenses. Because he is only under a one-year contract, the Vikings might not have to part with a premium pick, either.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

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).

Calais Campbell. 38 years old and still good pic.twitter.com/TbPVxbiKZU

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) October 24, 2024

Nobody on the Vikings interior grades higher than a 63.9, and Taki Taimani isn’t even a starter. Without a doubt, Calais Campbell would be the perfect addition to the interior d-line. The former Miami Hurricane has 14 tackles, 2 sacks, 11 hurries and 16 total pressures, on the season.

Because he is 38, he won’t cost much, either. The Miami Dolphins are 2-4. They are expected to get Tua Tagovailoa back this week, which could change things dramatically for the Dolphins’ chances at a playoff comeback.

But if that doesn’t materialize, it makes a lot of sense to unload a 38-year-old Calais Campbell, who’s on an expiring contract. And without a doubt, the Vikings might make more sense than any other team in the league.

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.

LT Ikem Ekwonu climbs to the 2nd level, looks for work. LG Brady Christensen v Vea. Nice work by the entire 5 here. 33 Foreman is off to the races.

pic.twitter.com/Xp0phsl8hf

— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) February 24, 2023

The Vikings do not have a weak offensive line. They have one of the best tackle combos in the NFL, with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, and seem to have found their long-term answer at left guard, in Blake Brandel. Garrett Bradbury is.. ok, but certainly not terrible (most of the time).

Related: Minnesota Vikings Downgrade TJ Hockenson and Dalton Risner

The problem has been at right guard. The starter at right guard, for most of the last two seasons, has been 2022 2nd round draft pick out of LSU, Ed Ingram, who at 35.8, might hold the worst pass block grade at PFF for a starting offensive lineman… ever (unconfirmed).

Meanwhile, Dalton Risner was supposed to challenge Ingram in training camp. Unfortunately, he has been out all season with an injury that he claims he is healed from. Thursday, however, he was once again not activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list.

And even if Risner had been able to play, he is just as bad in run block as Ingram is in pass protection. Neither player can do both at even an average level. Enter Brady Christensen, who can pass and run block better than both guys. He’s like a two-player upgrade, in one.