Which player can return the most draft capital for Minnesota?
The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and the Minnesota Vikings hold a top-20 pick. Trades will happen on draft day. This draft class will force more trades than usual due to the drop-off after the top-end talent. Teams will have to be aggressive if they want to land a difference maker. After the top 20 or so players, the gap between players is negligible.
Would teams consider trading for veteran players who are sure bets instead of rolling the dice on a prospect? A player could be involved with a package of picks for anyone looking to trade up or down. Personally, I believe taking the proven commodity over a chance to develop someone is a better strategy in certain instances. It depends on the prospect the team is passing on for the proven player.
Which Vikings player can return the most draft capital?
Jonathan Greenard comes to mind, but the 28-year-old EDGE rusher won't return the most capital. Justin Jefferson could return a king's ransom, but Minnesota isn't trading him and would be foolish to do so. J.J. McCarthy could be a trade candidate, but teams are taking a chance on trying to turn his career around, similarly to a draft prospect.
The answer is Jordan Addison. Minnesota picked up his fifth-year option, so he's under control for two more seasons and is a relative steal salary-wise. John Kosko of Pro Football Focus agrees and has identified Addison as the best trade asset.
"The Vikings don’t have many top-tier trade assets, but Addison stands out as a potential candidate. A former first-round pick, he has flashed early in his career but has yet to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season and struggled with drops in 2025.
The talent is evident, and a contending team in need of a WR2 or WR3 could benefit from his skill set. With Minnesota needing to add depth on defense, moving Addison could bring back valuable assets to help address those areas."
It feels like Minnesota is committed to Addison with the fifth-year option and sticking by him with his off-the-field issues. Addison is very talented, and I'm sure Minnesota is excited to see him with Kyler Murray after the long season in 2025 for the Vikings offense.
Crazier things have happened, but the NFL Draft is unpredictable, and the lack of depth could make a team desperate for an impact player.