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Last season, the Minnesota Vikings had one of the best supporting casts on offense in the entire NFL. Kevin O’Connell is one of the best play callers and play designers in the league, and Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison formed one of the best wide receiver duos in all of football.
On top of that, a stellar offensive line and TJ Hockenson at tight end gave the Vikings plenty of outlets to go to in order to move the football. That is part of the reason why Sam Darnold was able to have a career renaissance in 2024 before a tough playoff exit, earning him a big new contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
Now, the Vikings are surely hoping that they can replicate that and give JJ McCarthy a similar ecosystem to work in during his first year as the starting quarterback. The 2024 first-round pick out of Michigan missed his entire rookie season after suffering a knee injury during the preseason, so there will likely be some growing pains early in the season.
On top of that, the Vikings will be without Addison for the first three games of the season due to a suspension, and Justin Jefferson is recovering from a hamstring injury that he has been dealing with during training camp. Jefferson should be ready for Week 1, but the Vikings are still looking for more wide receiver help before the season gets underway, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Here are five names to watch out for in a potential trade.
The Carolina Panthers have quietly built a deep wide receiver room, and a team with so many holes on defense could be looking to collect some extra draft capital in exchange for one of its veterans who may not see consistent playing time. Adam Thielen had some of the best seasons of his career in Minnesota with the Vikings, and a reunion makes a lot of sense here.
Of course, Carolina drafted Tetairoa McMillan in the first round this year and is bringing back Xavier Legette for his second season. Jalen Coker has also shown a lot of promise this preseason, and it looks like the fantasy football hive may have gotten that one right. If Coker emerges as a legitimate WR3, Thielen could be on his way out.
The 34-year old struggled with injuries at times last season, playing just 10 games in Carolina. While he isn’t his All-Pro self from his prime in Minnesota, he is still an ultra-reliable slot receiver when he is on the field and would be a great security blanket for a young quarterback like McCarthy.
Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles are always active on the trade market, especially at this time of year as they look to finalize their roster before getting their Super Bowl defense underway. Roseman is also famous for taking on more draft capital, which is something that he...
