{"id":911563,"date":"2026-06-09T16:12:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T21:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/09\/lost-in-the-shuffle-the-vikings-pursued-a-trade-but-couldnt-find-any-takers\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T16:12:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T21:12:16","slug":"lost-in-the-shuffle-the-vikings-pursued-a-trade-but-couldnt-find-any-takers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/09\/lost-in-the-shuffle-the-vikings-pursued-a-trade-but-couldnt-find-any-takers\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost in the Shuffle, The Vikings Pursued a Trade But Couldn\u2019t Find Any Takers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"VikingsApr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/USATSI_28796722_168394844_lowres-1180×787.jpg”>

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A touch lost in the shuffle, perhaps, was the admission from Kevin O\u2019Connell that the Vikings were open for business at No. 18 in the 2026 NFL Draft. <\/p>\n

Minnesota\u2019s skipper did an interview with KFAN\u2019s Paul Allen after the opening round<\/a>. During that conversation, Coach O\u2019Connell described a plan to explore moving down the board. When it came time to do so, per O\u2019Connell, \u201cthe phones did get quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Vikings Chased a Trade But Didn\u2019t Find a Dance Partner<\/h2>\n

By definition, a trade is a classic situation of needing two to tango<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Every single team in the NFL would be keen to put together a package to acquire Justin Jefferson. Only a single issue emerges: the Vikings\u2019 unwillingness to do business within that sort of deal. The NFL\u2019s 31 potential trade partners would be calling, but the 32nd team \u2014 the Minnesota Vikings \u2014 would say no, meaning no trade materializes. <\/p>\n

Likewise, Minnesota couldn\u2019t find anyone when it came time to move back. The clock was ticking, meaning there was a finite amount of time to orchestrate a swap. Seeing the phones go quiet meant that the only recourse was to push the pick toward Caleb Banks<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) dives for a first down on a reception against Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams (33) during their football game Sunday, January 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. \u00a9 Dan Powers\/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.<\/p>\n

” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/USATSI_27932152-1180×786.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/USATSI_27932152.jpg” alt >

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) dives for a first down on a reception against Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams (33) during their football game Sunday, January 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. \u00a9 Dan Powers\/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThe phones did get quiet,\u201d Kevin O\u2019Connell clarified, \u201cand we had a mindset and a plan for making a really good selection that we felt great about at 18. And that\u2019s what we did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part of what influenced the trade action \u2014 or, rather, lack thereof \u2014 was the early run on offensive tackle talent. So, too, did the various skill guys getting stolen away create an unwillingness for teams to move up. So goes the theory articulated by O\u2019Connell, at least. <\/p>\n

O\u2019Connell\u2019s take on things: \u201cWhen the tackle run started was going to be something that, quite honestly, we were monitoring. Because there was a lot of teams behind us picking that we felt pretty strongly about were coming up for a tackle. If we could potentially move back and maybe still get the player or one of the three or four players that we had targeted at 18, we were ready to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

A similar rationale got mentioned for some of those skill guys. QB Ty Simpson went to the Rams at No. 13 and TE Kenyon Sadiq got snagged at No. 16 by the Jets, further depleting the teams willing to forfeit picks to climb the board. <\/p>\n

The Vikings therefore had to pivot. Not having any takers for a trade means sticking-and-picking, a strategy that has merit so long as someone excellent gets scooped up. <\/p>\n

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Aug 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevon O’Connell meet after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26862842_168394844_lowres-1180×787.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=75,gravity=auto,metadata=none,format=auto,onerror=redirect\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26862842_168394844_lowres.jpg” alt>

Aug 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevon O\u2019Connell meet after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Finally, consider what wasn\u2019t<\/em> said. <\/p>\n

In no way did the Vikings not want to pick Banks. Rather, the Vikings wanted to pick Banks, but would have been happier to do so after going from (for instance) No. 18 to No. 21. Dropping a few spots would mean earning more draft capital while still snagging the coveted player. Essentially, it\u2019s a way to have one\u2019s cake and eat it, too. <\/p>\n

Failing to arrive at that spot meant settling for a good outcome (snagging the ultra talented but risky Banks) instead of the great outcome (snagging Banks after getting more draft picks).<\/p>\n

As of today, the Vikings are working from within OTAs. The plan is for the powerful DT to be healthy enough to get into action in time for training camp, which arrives at the end of July. <\/p>\n

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory <\/em> & PurplePTSD <\/em>. Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

<\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

K. Joudry
Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images A touch lost in the shuffle, perhaps, was the admission from Kevin O\u2019Connell that the Vikings were open for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":911564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22818,3516],"tags":[112314,7941],"class_list":["post-911563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-shuffle","category-vikings","tag-shuffle","tag-vikings"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=911563"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911563\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/911564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=911563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=911563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=911563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}