It’s no secret the Minnesota Vikings could use a wide receiver.
With superstar Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor nursing injuries, Rondale Moore out for the year, plus Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension, Minnesota is in the trade market for a wide receiver.
Here are five potential wideouts the Vikings could target via trade.
Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesTerry McLaurin
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Stats: 460 catches, 6,379 yards, 38 touchdowns in 97 games over six seasons.
Why He’s a Fit: McLaurin, of course, is the best-case scenario for the Vikings if the Commanders decide to ultimately trade him. The two-time Pro Bowler is coming of a 1,096-yard season while helping Washington reach the NFC Championship Game but is in the midst of a contract standoff and has not yet practiced.
With the Vikings having Super Bowl expectations, and Addison set to return in Week 4, a trio of Jefferson, Addison and McLaurin would be the hands-down best on the NFC and might even rival the Cincinnati Bengals as best in the NFL.
Why He May Not: Can the Vikings pay the price, draft-capital wise and financially, or are they willing to potentially part with Addison to acquire an older version of him? The Vikings have cap space for this year, but any potential contract extension for McLaurin would doom them for next year.
The 2025 fit could be amazing. But there is life beyond this year.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
Stats: 685 catches, 8,311 yards, 64 touchdowns in 162 games over 11 seasons.
Why He’s a Fit: Thielen, of course, has already been the Vikings No. 2 receiver before he left for the Panthers after the 2022 season. He played at Mankato and made the Pro Bowl twice in his first nine seasons with the Vikings, knows head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense and could be had for the cheap, since the Panthers are shopping him.
In the NFL, you can of course go home again, and Thielen could complement Jefferson and Addison as a low-cost WR3.
Why He May Not: Thielen had a massive fall-off in 2024, posting just 48 catches in just 10 games with a hamstring injury. Plus, he just turned 36 years old, which means his best days are far behind him. That means any price could be too costly.
Elsa/Getty ImagesCurtis Samuel of the Buffalo Bills.
Curtis Samuel, Buffalo Bills
Stats: 348 catches, 3,636 yards in 105 games in eight seasons.
Why He’s a Fit: Samuel is clearly on the bubble in Buffalo, though his potential dead cap hit by releasing him means the Bills are likely to shop him around the NFL.
The Vikings could use a 5-11, 195-pound receiver, and Samuel is only one season removed from back-to-back 60-plus-catch, 600-yard, five-touchdown seasons in Washington. If he can find that form while playing with J.J. McCarthy, Samuel could be a steal.
Why He May Not:Â Samuel had a hard time fitting in with the reigning NFL MVP in his lone season in Western New York. Plus, he is owed $15 million in guaranteed money through 2027, which means if Samuel’s 31-catch, 253-yard, one-TD season in 2024 is the new norm, that is a lot of money to owe a not-great wideout.
Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty ImagesRomeo Doubs
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Stats: 147 catches, 1,700 yards, 15 touchdowns in 43 games in three seasons
Why He’s a Fit: Doubs is the youngest player on this list, since the 25-year-old, fourth-round pick from 2022 is on the outs in Green Bay after it drafted two wideouts this year. He has shown flashes and is in the final year of his rookie contract, which means he’ll be incentivized to play well for a new deal.
Why He May Not: Can you imagine the Packers helping the Vikings out? These are two of the best teams in the NFC North and could be in contention for the division title again. Barring an overpay, it’s hard to imagine the Packers and Vikings consummating this trade.
Adam Hunger/Getty ImagesKendrick Bourne
Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots
Stats: 292 catches, 3714 yards, 22 touchdowns in 111 games in eight seasons.
Why He’s a Fit: The 6-1, 205-pound receiver can block and fit the bill as a physical wide receiver. He is the definition of a depth wideout, since he hasn’t started double-digit games any season, and could play a role down the lineup when Nailor and Addison come back.
Why He May Not:Â Bourne is currently nursing a hamstring injury, and his only 800-plus-yard season came four years ago. The Vikings could probably do better on the waiver wire.
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