The Minnesota Vikings fell to 1-4 after a heartbreaking defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs at home where they lost star player Justin Jefferson to injury. Now the team faces a series of decisions on how to approach their immediate future. Fans are calling for a fire sale after this season’s early disappointment. However, the roster’s composition may not permit them to fully tank.
Minnesota’s most notable trade assets are soon-to-be 30-year-old Danielle Hunter and longtime franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins. However, there are barriers to either being moved. Cousins has a no-trade clause in his contract that only he can waive, and Hunter has a long injury history that may scare away suitors. When pressed for an answer on whether he would waive the NTC in place, Cousins declined to comment. Instead, he said he’s focused on the upcoming matchup against perennial NFC North basement-dwelling Chicago Bears.
Trading the third-winningest quarterback in team history would signify the end of the competitive-but-not-a-contender stretch that the Vikings have embarked on since 2018. Even though it’s not entirely Cousins’ fault, it may be necessary.
As for Hunter, his performance this season has been excellent. He has provided nearly the entirety of pass-rushing production, with six of the team’s 14 sacks and 11 of 48 hurries. However, Hunter’s injury history is extensive enough to warrant concern from any potential buyer. He had a cervical spine disc hernia that sidelined him for the entire 2020 season and a chest pectoral tear that forced him to miss 10 games in 2021.
Marcus Davenport is still unproven, so Hunter is Minnesota’s only viable threat on the defensive line. The loss of Hunter’s services would be the fatal blow to an already struggling pass-rushing unit. However, Hunter’s deal expires after 2023. If the Vikings do not wish to retain him as a part of the new core, they should look to trade him in an effort to stockpile resources that can go towards the future.
Other possible trade candidates include starting linebacker Jordan Hicks, or even Cam Bynum, who is having a promising season. However, the Vikings don’t have any big names to dangle beyond a few core players who are integral to the team’s future.
The upcoming stretch of games will provide an opportunity for some players to prove themselves. Jordan Addison will likely receive a massive uptick in looks after the injury that will sideline Justin Jefferson indefinitely, and K.J. Osborn will have the full opportunity to produce in a WR2 role during that same span.
Addison’s opportunity to step up is reminiscent of old friend Stefon Diggs’ in 2019 when a Grade 1 hamstring pull sidelined Adam Thielen in Week 7. Diggs had one of the most efficient seasons as a wide receiver in recent memory, averaging nearly 18 yards per catch on 63 receptions.
The passing offense has occasionally looked out of sync of late. Cousins either let the ball fly early while under pressure, or they had drops or fumbles in pivotal moments. The offense will need to be substantially more efficient. Cousins will have to spread targets between players, and the Vikings can use Cam Akers in the pass game out of the backfield. It’s the only way to fill the void left by Jefferson’s absence.
T.J. Hockenson will have to be Cousins’ primary safety valve, and there is no longer room for error on timing throws or contested catches. Hockenson has performed well to start the season, but he will need to elevate himself in the new spotlight.
As for the defense, there are myriad holes. Brian Flores’ scheme helps to disguise personnel issues, but there are still many issues. The defensive line has failed to produce pressure, and Flores blitzes at one of the highest rates in the NFL. Despite defying age, Harrison Smith, 34, shouldn’t have the second-most sacks on the team.
In semi-surprising news, the Vikings are starting to create a lockdown cornerback room. Mekhi Blackmon has played well in his rookie season. Akayleb Evans has been solid in game action. And the safety duo of Smith and Bynum have performed spectacularly. With time and continued development, the defensive back room looks on track to become an above-average unit.
With incredibly talented and young players, the Vikings have a core that can produce contenders down the road. However, this is not a contending season, and the team needs to evaluate how to reload in a way to properly build around their injured superstar. Minnesota certainly has the makings of an upstart team, but it may be time to move on from longtime stalwarts in the hope of achieving a brighter future.
