Inside The Vikings

Tracking Vikings rumors, speculation ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline

No trades can be made once the clock strikes 3 p.m. CT Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Joe Nelson

Nov 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talks with head coach Kevin O Connell prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images
Nov 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talks with head coach Kevin O Connell prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images / Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images
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After the Vikings traded for left tackle Cam Robinson last week, the clock is ticking down to the 3 p.m. CT Tuesday NFL trade deadline and the rumor mill is providing very little when it comes to moves Minnesota might make.

The Lions, leading the NFC with a 7-1 record, made a deal with the Browns for edge rusher Za'Darius Smith early Tuesday. Smith gives them a high-end pass rusher to help replace the injured Aidan Hutchinson, who is out for the season with a broken leg.

Minnesota has obvious holes on the interior offensive and defensive lines, as well as cornerback, though the latter is more a long-term need since the top three cornerbacks on the roster — Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin and Byron Murphy Jr. — aren't signed beyond this season.

2:51 p.m. — Vikings reportedly "standing pat"

The deadline hits in nine minutes and the Vikings are unlikely to make a move, according to Josina Anderson. She says she's been told that the Vikings are "standing pat."

1:22 p.m. — What about a Titans defender?

Nothing is linking Minnesota to the Titans for a trio of defensive stars, but The Athletic's Dianna Russini is reporting that Tennessee has received calls on defensive tackles Jeffery Simmons and Sebastian Joseph-Day. Either one would be a nice addition if the Vikings were to make a move, though Simmons would likely cost the farm.

11:57 a.m. — Lattimore to the Commanders

Well, so much for any thought that the Vikings could get Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

11:54 a.m. — Are the Vikings in on Marshon Lattimore?

It's impossible to know for sure and as we noted below, Twin Cities sports insider Darren Wolfson hasn't heard any Vikings-Lattimore connection, but the Saints star cornerback is certainly the talk of the league as the deadline nears.

ESPN's Adam Schefter says there are four teams bidding for Lattimore. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said the Chiefs and Commanders and two other unidentified teams are in the mix. Are the Vikings one of them? Well, considering NFL insider Jordan Schultz is saying the Saints are looking for a 2025 Day 2 pick — that's a second- or third-round pick — it's unlikely the Vikings are involved because they don't have a Day 2 pick.

Minnesota only has its first-round pick and two fifth-round selections in 2025.

11:18 a.m. — Vikings reportedly making calls

"The Vikings continue to make all sorts of calls trying to upgrade the interior of their defensive line and looking at a cornerback," said KSTP-TV's Darren Wolfson on Tuesday with SKOR North. "I've not heard Marshon Lattimore steam in this moment. I know he's out there, maybe he does get moved, I just haven't heard the Vikings attached to Lattimore."

10:10 a.m. — Monday speculation from Vikings insider

"If the Vikings make a move," Vikings insider Alec Lewis explains on his podcast Monday, "to me it is for a player who fits in the present and future."

In his column for The Athletic, Lewis offered up six players who would make sense as trade options for the Vikings. The six: Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn, Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbell, Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, Raiders guard Dylan Parham and Dolphins cornerback Kendall Fuller.

"All six of them are defensive tackles, guards or cornerbacks. Those, to me, are the three needs of this team," Lewis reasoned on his podcast. "This is an opportunity for the Vikings to prevent the need from having to go into next year's draft or free agency needing to fill all these holes at once. If you get one of these spots ironed out now, then it gives you more time to think about more avenues of how to go moving forward. I think that's a benefit. It's like, make the chess move as early as you can."

The Vikings also made a deal with Houston in October for running back Cam Akers, who looked great in his first chance as the No. 2 running back behind Aaron Jones in Minnesota's win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Add in the return of tight end T.J. Hockenson against the Colts and the Vikings have added two weapons on offense while replacing star left tackle Christian Darrisaw with Robinson.

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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

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