Minnesota Vikings Trade Rumors Fueled by Local Insider’s New Scoops

As noted, SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson recently addressed some popular Minnesota Vikings trade rumors floating around the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Here was “Doogie’s” response when asked whether the Vikings could take a Rams-like ‘F them picks’ approach and go all-in ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline:

“The answer is not zero percent. The possibility does exist. I think it ramps up even more if they win on Sunday (against Detroit), create that much more separation in what looks like the best division in football. Do I think that’s at least been rattled about in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s mind? Yes. Now, who is that player? Is it Jaycee Horn of the Panthers? There’s a cornerback in Cleveland (Greg Newsome) that I believe is enticing. What about Jeffery Simmons? I haven’t looked at the contractual situations of all these guys.

Going back pre-draft, even though it’s a new regime, there are a number of holdovers from when Simmons was draft-eligible, there were a lot of healthy opinions of him pre-draft. And I’m not quite sure he’s done anything to make you change off that stance. Really good player, and I don’t know that the Titans would move him.”

Darren Wolfson on Vikings’ trade deadline

Wolfson’s understandably a busy guy, so we took some time to do a bit of extra research on these players’ respective contracts.

Evaluating Jaycee Horn’s trade fit for the Vikings

The first player he mentioned is young Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (son of former Saints NFL WR Joe Horn). Interestingly enough, the 24-year-old is only under contract through 2025. Since he’s under contract for another year, he could be one of the more attractive options to upgrade the secondary, both now and for years to come.

Horn enters Week 7 graded 36th among 102 qualifying cornerbacks per Pro Football Focus. The Vikings’ starting cornerbacks rank 33rd (Gilmore), 65th (Murphy), and 71st (Griffin). Yet, it should be noted that none of the trio are under contract after this season. Adding Horn would provide more long-term security.

Evaluating Greg Newsome’s trade fit for the Vikings

The second player Wolfson named was Cleveland cornerback Greg Newsome II. The 24-year-old former first-round pick is in a similar contract situation as Horn, in that he’s under contract for this season and the next. Since the Browns are 1-5, a trade could be possible as they look to avoid a similar start next year.

However, Newsome is nowhere near as proven as Horn. He currently ranks 96th among 102 qualifying cornerbacks. His best season saw him rank 31st, but that came as a rookie. Newsome graded as the 34th-best NFL CB in his second season before slipping to 55th in 2022.

The Browns haven’t reached a contract extension with their young corner, and Adofo-Mensah’s ties to Cleveland’s front office could help the two teams reach a trade agreement. Trading for Newsome definitely wouldn’t cost the Vikings their first-round pick, which could make him a more attractive potential solution.

Evaluating Jeffery Simmons’ trade fit for the Vikings

This is the big kahuna. Simmons is a player that could lead the Vikings to part with a future first-round pick. The two-time second-team All-Pro is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. But he just signed a four-year, $94 million extension last year. Of course, his contract security also makes him an attractive trade option with him under contract through 2027.

The Titans may have had no plans to trade their two-time Pro Bowl DT when the season started, but they’re 1-4, and Will Levis isn’t doing a good impression of a franchise quarterback. Tennessee’s struggles likely put them on track to seek a new franchise QB in the 2025 NFL Draft, and having some extra capital to move up the board could be enticing.

Simmons is a 27-year-old game-wrecker who averaged 7.1 sacks per season from 2021-23, and he also routinely grades as one of the best interior run-stuffers in the NFL. He enters Week 7 as the seventh-highest-graded run defender among interior linemen. As much as we love Horrible Harry, Harrison Phillips ranks 24th.

So, there’s no doubt that Simmons would be a significant upgrade. Plus, the 2025 free agency class for interior defenders isn’t pretty after Alim McNeill and Kenny Clark signed extensions. If the Vikings continue to be on pace to pick late in the first round, parting with a selection in the 20s or even 30s for a proven star wouldn’t be a bad plan at all. But that’s only if Tennessee’s willing to listen.