The Minnesota Vikings have a 6-2 document on the NFL common season midpoint, having fun with second place contained in the NFC North. If the postseason began right this moment, Minnesota would head to Arizona for a date with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
And on Tuesday, the NFL’s commerce deadline got here and went sans one other deal from the Vikings. The franchise acquired working again Cam Akers and left sort out Cam Robinson within the final three weeks, however that was it for swaps.
And 4 “losers” grew to become obvious after the commerce deadline. These are these, ranked in ascending order (No. 1=main loser).
Most 6-2 groups would anticipate to be Tremendous Bowl contenders by 9 weeks. Nonetheless, as a result of the world sees that Minnesota is led by Sam Darnold at quarterback, no distinguished knowledgeable actually places the Vikings in a category with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, for instance.
But when Minnesota wished to be a part of that tier, it’d’ve wanted to promote some mid- and late-round belongings for an additional impression participant. MLB groups do that recurrently, and the NFL will comply with go well with ultimately. The commerce deadline must be an arms race, and on Tuesday, Minnesota made no last-minute offers to enhance the inside defensive position or cornerback spots.
Allow us to clarify.
Now, that plan is useless.
If Cam Robinson performs sufficient snaps within the Vikings’ remaining 10 video games, Minnesota shall be charged a 4th-Spherical choose within the 2026 NFL Draft, deposited within the Jaguars’ piggybank.
Minnesota is already coping with severely restricted draft capital within the 2025 NFL Draft, and till the Robinson commerce, 2026’s allotment remained largely untouched. Now, nevertheless, a 4th- or Fifth-Rounder shall be lacking, and a few understand Robinson as “only a 10-game rental.” He’ll hit free company in March.
It’s value noting, although, that Adofo-Mensah might snag a compensatory draft choose for 2026 if Robinson bolts by way of free company in 4.5 months.
When Minnesota acquired Cam Akers final month, most anticipated him to fill RB3 obligations. However the Vikings’ Sunday Evening Soccer dub proved Akers could possibly be morphing into RB2.
That would go away Ty Chandler with an RB3 demotion.
Not way back — in February and early March — Chandler might’ve been nominated for RB1 duties. However Minnesota signed Aaron Jones and later traded for Akers. Whereas Chandler will obtain some touches within the offense, Akers could possibly be within the means of a refined RB2 takeover.
Why else would Minnesota commerce for him in back-to-back seasons? RB3s shouldn’t be that important. However Akers is, suggesting he’s on faucet for RB2. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his every day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple staff, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual data offered by OverTheCap.com.
4 Losers for Vikings from the Commerce Deadline
4. The Tremendous Bowl Hopes
3. Ed Ingram (RG)
2. The 2026 Draft Piggy Financial institution
1. Ty Chandler (RB)
