The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the most talked about teams when it comes to the trade deadline. The Vikings started 2-4 but their two wins came against the two worst teams in the National Football League.
Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan reported that outside linebacker Danielle Hunter is a likely trade candidate.
Known in personnel circles for his size, strength, and speed, the ninth-year edge rusher could really help a team that is looking to make a deep playoff run. And as a league source told us recently, Hunter’s ability to play in multiple defensive schemes (has played with 4-3 and 3-4 defensive alignments in his career) should give teams interested in him the belief that he could contribute right away.
While Minnesota is currently just one game out of an NFC Wild Card spot, there’s a strong belief in personnel circles that the Vikings don’t have a realistic chance to make the playoffs this season, and the reality is that this is a team that’s in transition and needs to rebuild in some areas.
This doesn’t really tell us anything about what the Vikings will do at the trade deadline. It does tell us what those around the league think about the situation and where the Vikings are at.
If Hunter is moved, it won’t happen if they are at 0.500 at the trade deadline. They are definitely a team in transition, but they aren’t playing like a bad football team.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t faced a situation like this during his 21 months on the job. How he will handle the trade deadline will speak volumes about what his future plans are.
