Apex Scores Lite Apex Scores Lite flag
back Kembali
New Vikings GM Grinding the Phones in Search of Trade
New Vikings GM Grinding the Phones in Search of Trade
Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings - X)

The Minnesota Vikings have 11 days left to make a move before the NFL trade deadline at 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 10. And the market is heating up with every day that goes by.

On Tuesday, arguably the Vikings’ most impactful trade deadline target went off the board when the Colts traded Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks. Later that day, Indy dealt DeForest Buckner to the Niners, immediately making two NFC rivals better while Minnesota sat idle.

Then Thursday, the division got better when the Bears landed defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in a blockbuster deal with the Titans. Meanwhile, rumors have been flying connecting Minnesota to multiple players, including star running back Jonathan Taylor.

However, Tom Pelissero threw cold water on that idea Thursday when he reported on KFAN Radio that the Vikings are unlikely to splurge on Jonathan Taylor or another top running back like Saquon Barkley.

Nolan Teasley, MN Vikings looking for help in trenches and more

But according to NFL insiders around the league, the Vikings’ inaction this week is not due to a lack of trying. In fact, multiple reports in the last 24 hours say the exact opposite, that first-year GM Nolan Teasley is grinding the phones as hard as any executive in the league this week.

Their top target, though, is not running back. Over at Sports Illustrated, Albert Breer is reporting that the Vikings are on the hunt for interior offensive and defensive line help.

As for the buyers, the Chiefs and Steelers have asked around on receivers. The Giants and Jaguars are sniffing around on defensive tackles—Jacksonville’s looking for pieces for its defensive front in general. The Vikings have asked around on interior offensive and defensive linemen, and running backs.

Albert Breer, via Sports Illustrated

While the Minnesota Vikings could certainly use a Jonathan Taylor to bolster the backfield, the trenches feel like a much more pressing need. Donovan Jackson is out for the season with a torn meniscus and others on the OL have been in and out of the lineup.

Undrafted swing lineman Joe Huber has been starting at left guard since the injury, and played reasonably well, but they are one injury away from depth becoming a huge concern on the offensive line.

Vikings on hunt for interior D-line help

The interior defensive line is the one spot on Brian Flores’ front where depth could be a problem. Minnesota released veterans Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in March and handed the middle to Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange.

Redmond is turning into a star that offenses have to gameplan for on a weekly basis. His 81.7 PFF grade currently ranks fourth among 126 qualifying defensive linemen. Behind him, however, the run defense has started to leak.

Indianapolis ran for 154 yards in Week 7, and Jonathan Taylor’s 38-yard touchdown went right at Orange and Banks. That was also the second time in three games an opposing back topped 90 yards. A proven veteran tackle would ease the load on the rookies before the stretch run.

Of course, running back remains a need too, as does tight end, another position that has sustained a lopsided number of injuries this season, testing Minnesota’s depth.

TJ Hockenson has missed time, but the real issue has been run blocking, since Josh Oliver (widely-considered the best TE blocker in the NFL) went out for the season with a biceps tear.

In the backfield, Aaron Jones has been playing through a sprained left MCL, which caused him to miss practice on Wednesday. He and Huber were back on the fields at TCO Performance Center Thursday.

James Palmer: Teasley is a “madman on the phones”

And according to James Palmer (Prime Video), after the Thursday Night Football broadcast on Prime Video, the Vikings are indeed still in the market for both tight end and running back help, going as far as to say that GM Nolan Teasley has been a “madman” working the phones this week.

“The Vikings new general manager, Nolan Teasley, is looking at everything. He is a madman on the phones, I’m told. They’re looking at running back and looking at tight end.”

James Palmer, via Prime Video

Palmer also said the Broncos are monitoring the Jonathan Taylor situation, but added that Taylor still looks more likely to stay in Indianapolis.

You may like

3 Most Important Things to Watch for Vikings against Lions in Week 8 (Flores' Defense Will Be Put...

si.com 1 jam yang lalu

Ben Johnson is going for it on fourth down even more than Dan Campbell

nbcsports.com 2 jam yang lalu

Week 8 NFL Survivor Pool Picks & Strategy: Bengals, Jaguars Lead The Way

si.com 12 menit yang lalu

The Chargers May be Hurting Themselves with Their Trade Deadline Plan

si.com 43 menit yang lalu

Where the Saints rank offensively as they enter their Week 8 bye

aol.com 1 jam yang lalu

Bold Trade Idea for Giants: Cash In on John Michael Schmitz Before the Deadline

si.com 2 jam yang lalu

How to Watch Nebraska Football vs. Washington with Preview, Breakdown, TV Channel

si.com 45 menit yang lalu

NFL Week 8 schedule: Why you should watch these three underrated games

cbssports.com 1 jam yang lalu

Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Tony Pollard vs. Chase Brown

si.com 26 menit yang lalu