The Minnesota Vikings agreed to trade Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles, and one report suggests the team will likely use the extra draft capital to go after a wide receiver. While Justin Jefferson is incredible, the rest of the depth chart could use some work. Jordan Addison is serving a three-game suspension to start the season, and Jalen Nailor is battling through a hand injury. The Vikings need first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to live up to his potential, and surrounding him with talented wide receivers is the best way to increase his odds of panning out.
#Vikings have added draft picks and shed salary with recent trades of Harrison Phillips and Sam Howell, setting the stage for a receiver deal.
Yes, Adam Thielen is in the mix there. But the VIkings have several lines out on the position league-wide.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 24, 2025
Vikings “Setting the Stage” For Potential Wide Receiver Trade
It should come as no surprise that Adam Thielen is the top trade target for the Minnesota Vikings. The former undrafted free agent first made a name for himself with the Vikings and is exactly the type of player this team needs. While he’s set to play in his age-35 season and has lost a step from his peak days, he’s still a reliable possession receiver who should thrive in an offense like Minnesota’s.
With Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson serving as the focal points of the passing attack, Thielen can step in and be a reliable depth option, which is ideal for his current skill level. Once Addison and Nailor return to the field, Thielen can help form one of the deepest groups of pass-catchers in the league. This team went 14-3 with Sam Darnold under center, so they should have their eyes on a Super Bowl if McCarthy lives up to his potential.
Unfortunately, the Carolina Panthers do not seem willing to trade Adam Thielen to the Vikings. While they have some impressive young talent in first-round pick Tetariora McMillan and second-year players Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker, they do not have another proven veteran on the roster. Thielen is still a good player and can provide quarterback Bryce Young with a reliable set of hands while also mentoring the younger receivers. Unless the Vikings overpay, Thielen probably won’t go anywhere.
Plan B
Assuming Adam Thielen is off the table, the Minnesota Vikings could pivot and trade for another wide receiver. While players like Kendrick Bourne are likely available, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes the team could go after Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Peoples-Jones is certainly not the most exciting name in the league, but Benjamin notes he could be a cost-effective addition who could be an adequate short-term fix while Addison and Nailor are sidelined.
“Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was the Cleveland Browns’ vice president of football operations when the wideout entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick out of Michigan,” Benjamin writes. “While he’s held very limited roles the last two seasons, Peoples-Jones had a solid showing as a full-timer in 2022, when he posted a career-high 61 catches for 839 yards.”
Maybe Peoples-Jones makes his way to the Vikings, but Minnesota shouldn’t trade anything more than a conditional pick for his services. After all, Benjamin needed to go back three years to find a productive season, which is an eternity in the NFL.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – Imagn Images
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