The NFL trade deadline is November 5. This doesn’t mean the Minnesota Vikings have to wait until November 5 to make a move, so let’s talk about it now.

The Vikings’ potential trade situation is a bit complicated. On the one hand, they are 5-0 and all the statistical indicators like point differential and DVOA (both #1) that tell us about the team’s true strength suggest that they are just as good as their WL record. The complicating factor is that the Vikings don’t have a lot of capital to move. They should get picks for free agents who left last spring, but the Vikings only have one first-round pick and two 2025 fifth-round picks to deal with. One choice in two was used in other professions.

The Vikings’ chances of being in the championship race in the playoffs currently appear high. They’ve already faced the toughest part of their schedule (aside from this week against Detroit) and have a chance to get going in the second half of the season. The NFC North is a beast, but the rest of the conference is very questionable, especially with the disappearance of previously great teams like the Eagles and 49ers. The entire race could come down to the Vikings, Lions and Packers. Guess who the Vikings face in the final two weeks of the season?

As we’ve seen in many seasons of Vikings history, sometimes the best chances come out of nowhere. No one expected the 2024 Vikings to be the best team in the NFL at this point, but no one expected the 2017 Vikings to make the NFC Championship or the 1998 Vikings to get a 15-1 record. Every team has been building for years trying to have a season like this where they have a legitimate chance to represent their conference in the Super Bowl and just because the Vikings seemed to be a year away from that when they made this roster in March/April. That doesn’t mean they should still see things that way now. What if it happened faster than expected?

Any time you have a chance to win in the NFL, you have to give it the best chance you can because you never know when things are going to fall your way again. Certainly, JJ McCarthy’s presence matters in this equation – it’s not a problem. Last dance – but every time in Vikings history that they have made the NFC Championship and were expected to return the following season, they have ended up not living up to expectations.

Making a big trade at the deadline wouldn’t necessarily mean raising the white flag on the future, considering the Vikings have most of their core pieces under contract moving forward. Players like… Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, TJ Hockenson, Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Harrison Phillips, Josh Metellus, Ivan Pace Jr. etc.

The Vikings are also projected to have $76 million in cap space by 2025, per OTC. Because JJ McCarthy will be on his rookie contract for 2025, 2026 and 2027, the Vikings have a window to spend at will around him while many opposing teams try to work around $50-$60 million QB contracts.

Additionally, Minnesota has become a destination under Kevin O’Connell. The culture, winning record, facilities and leadership group were clearly attractive factors when they signed several opening day free agents last March. Additionally, the coaching staff and front office seem to have a knack for identifying players in free agency who will be a good fit. They nailed almost every free agent signing this offseason.

One thing we can say for sure is that the Vikings should consider all options.

What are these options? Well, after scouring the internet for all the players who were potentially traded (and adding a few more ideas to the list), here are some possible targets and how the Vikings could go about it…

The brevity of this list shows how unique the situation was two years ago with Hockenson. It’s not easy to find difference-making players worth giving up a first-round pick who would also be a candidate for a big extension.

CAR — CB, Jaycee Horn

ARZ — DB, Budda Baker

NYJ—CB, DJ Reed

Opposing teams are unlikely to trade their stars under contract, but these few in particular might be worth making a phone call. If their teams were willing to completely hit the reset button and free up all the cap space possible in exchange for a top draft pick, then the Vikings should seriously consider pulling the trigger.

NYG—DT, Dexter Lawrence

TEN — DT, Jeffrey Simmons

TEN – RB, Tony Pollard

MIA — CB, Jalen Ramsey

CLE — CB, Denzel district

KEY — RG, Wyatt Teller

With this type of move, the Vikings can only consider plug-and-play multi-year starters at key positions. The tough decision would be a player like Pollard since RBs are generally considered expendable, but a combo of Pollard and Aaron Jones could be very difficult to stop and give the Vikings a valuable future for the next few years.

If the Vikings felt extremely confident that an additional player could push them over the top, they might consider sending out a first-round pick for a player who is not under contract in the future and who will most likely not be prolonged.

CLE-WR, Amari Cooper

CIN – WR, Tee Higgins

Granted, it doesn’t seem like the Vikings need a wide receiver, but moving Jordan Addison to WR3 feels like it would add rocket fuel to the Vikings offense.

The easiest and most likely move would be to trade for a less valuable player that another team is looking to give up for whatever they can get. Other teams might be able to make better deals than the Vikings, but deadline deals rarely yield massive returns.

NYG – RB, Devin Singletary

NYG — Managing Director, Azeez Ojulari

RCA — RB, Miles Sanders

CAR — DT, Jadeveon Clowney

JAX — RB, Travis Etienne

JAX—RG, Brandon Schreff

NO – OLB, Chase Young

NO – RB Alvin Kamara

NE – OLB, Josh Uche

NE — CB, Jonathan Jones

DEN—DT, DJ Jones

HOU — RB, Dameon Pierce

MIA — DT, Calais Campbell

MIA — CB, Kendall Fuller

LV—DT, Adam Butler

TEN — DT, Sebastian Joseph-Day

The options here are plentiful in terms of rotating running backs and defensive linemen. If the Vikings are looking for a starting RG, few players could argue for significant upgrade.

While not all named players may be available or available at the Vikings’ price, the rosters demonstrate the various potential options they could have at their fingertips if the front office chooses to upgrade a roster in line to contend for NFC. crown.