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As the Minnesota Vikings prepare for the 2025 training camp, the front office faces a pivotal crossroads. After a 14-3 campaign that reignited hope in the Twin Cities, the roster is brimming with both established stars and promising young talent. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has shown a willingness to make bold moves, and with roster flexibility and future draft capital always in mind, several under-the-radar names could be on the trade block. Here are three sneaky Vikings trade candidates to watch as camp approaches.
Jalen Nailor enters 2025 as a classic “sneaky” trade candidate. After stepping up in 2024 and posting career-best numbers, 42 targets, 28 catches, 414 yards, and 6 touchdowns, Nailor proved he can move the chains and contribute in clutch moments. Twenty-two of his catches went for first downs, a testament to his reliability when it counts.
However, the Vikings’ wide receiver room is suddenly crowded. Justin Jefferson remains the franchise cornerstone, Jordan Addison continues his rapid ascent, and T.J. Hockenson is a primary target at tight end. The team also invested a third-round pick in Tai Felton, whose skill set overlaps with Nailor’s, and brought in other young receivers eager for a shot.
Nailor’s contract is affordable, and moving him would free up over $1 million in cap space. For a team that’s already heavily invested at the top of the depth chart and seeking to maximize every dollar, trading Nailor for a late-round pick could be a prudent move. His value is likely highest to a receiver-needy team looking for a proven contributor with upside and special teams experience.
The Vikings’ front office has shown it isn’t afraid to let homegrown talent walk if it means better roster balance and flexibility. With Nailor’s role potentially shrinking, a trade could benefit both sides, giving Nailor a chance to shine elsewhere and Minnesota a little extra breathing room under the cap.
Brian Asamoah stands out as perhaps the most obvious, yet still under-discussed, trade candidate entering training camp. The former Oklahoma standout flashed early in his career, but the Vikings’ linebacker room has undergone a significant overhaul. With Ivan Pace Jr. emerging as a star, the addition of Dallas Turner, and the presence of veterans like Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel, Asamoah’s path to a starting role is murky at best.
Asamoah’s athleticism and versatility make him appealing, but his lack of a defined role in Brian Flores’ defense is a red flag. The Vikings are clearly prioritizing speed, youth, and flexibility on defense, and Asamoah may not fit the new blueprint. If he fails to carve out a niche in camp, Minnesota could look to move him for a late-round pick or as part of a package to address other needs.
Trading Asamoah would send a message: the Vikings are committed to building a cohesive, fast, and adaptable defense, even if it means moving on from recent draft investments. For Asamoah, a fresh start elsewhere could reignite his career,...
