3 sneaky trade candidates for Vikings entering 2026 season

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3 sneaky trade candidates for Vikings entering 2026 season

Ben Strauss, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Sun, Jul 12, 2026 ·

5 min read

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The Minnesota Vikings will be under a lot of pressure in 2026. Minnesota's lack of recent postseason success is beginning to become a problem. If the Vikings cannot win the NFC North , or at least make the playoffs as a wild card team, then big changes could be coming in the offseason. Those could even include moving on from Kevin O'Connell.

However, the Vikings know all too well the costs of investing too much in the present while neglecting the future. Minnesota needs to balance the present and future during the 2026 season. That could mean parting ways with a few veteran players.

The Vikings needs to start being realistic about their ability to compete in 2026. If things start looking questionable in the month of October, there are a few players who Minnesota should attempt to move at the trade deadline.

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But which players could fetch a nice return without harming the roster? And should Minnesota consider going full rebuild mode?

Three Vikings players stand out as sneaky trade candidate just months before the start of the 2026 NFL season.

Could Minnesota trade J.J. McCarthy if he loses training camp battle?

Minnesota will be one of the most fascinating teams to watch during training camp later this month. They are arguably the only team in the league who will be deciding their starting quarterback over the next two months.

The Vikings brought in Kyler Murray to push McCarthy for the starting job in 2026. It is too early to be sure, but early indications are that Murray has the inside track to win the job. That is, if he can quickly learn Minnesota's intricate offensive scheme.

McCarthy has been a disappointment during his first two seasons in Minnesota. If Murray does become the starter, where does that leave McCarthy?

The Vikings will not give up on McCarthy easily. But if he unquestionably becomes a backup quarterback, what's the point in holding on to him for much longer?

McCarthy could find himself as a trade piece at the deadline. If a contending team suffers a quarterback injury, the Vikings could be well positioned to cash in on McCarthy if they're willing to move him quickly.

Alternatively, Minnesota could get something back for McCarthy in the offseason if a rebuilding team wants to take a shot on him.

Remember, McCarthy is a former first-round pick and his rookie contract features a fifth-year option. If someone falls in love with his potential, he could be a cheap dart throw at the quarterback position.

Either way, the Vikings would be wise to permanently make up their minds about McCarthy at some point before the end of the 2026 season.

Now is the perfect time to get something for T.J. Hockenson

The Vikings are running out of time to get rid of Hockenson. They may have already set the table for trading him away before the deadline this fall.

Back in March, Minnesota restructured Hockenson's contract. That decision both saved them $5 million in 2026 and voided the 2027 year, effectively deleting it. As a result, Hockenson will become an unrestricted free agent during the 2027 offseason.

This is a pretty clear sign that Minnesota is willing to move on from Hockenson. That makes him the strongest trade candidate on this entire list headed into training camp.

Hockenson still has plenty of value, especially for a team that desperately needs tight end production. He is quite efficient at turning targets into receptions and can reliably move the chains. Hockenson may not be a superstar like Brock Bowers, but he's an excellent in-line tight end who can fit into any offense.

Realistically, the compensation will be the biggest piece of any potential trade. Minnesota could always get a compensatory pick in theory once another team signs Hockenson next spring. So any trade would have to be in the same ballpark in terms of value.

Aiming for a fourth-round pick would not be a crazy ask for a talented 29-year-old tight end.

The Vikings could flip Brian O'Neill to a contending team at the deadline

Very few players should be untouchable for the Vikings. O'Neill is no longer one of those guys.

O'Neill boasts the highest cap hit of any Vikings player in 2026 at $23.12 million. He is on the final year of his current contract , which puts his future in Minnesota into question.

The Vikings do have $46 million in cap space next offseason, so an extension for O'Neill is not out of the question. But should Minnesota's front office prioritize a 31-year-old right tackle over other positions?

At this point, keeping O'Neill looks like questionable business. If the Vikings struggle at all in 2026, they will face plenty of serious questions during the 2027 offseason.

O'Neill makes a lot of sense for a contending team. But if the Vikings inch closer to rebuild mode, then O'Neill suddenly looks like a luxury instead of a necessity.

The trouble with trading O'Neill at the trade deadline is his hefty cap figure. Any team taking on his contract will need just shy of $20 million in cap space to bring him on.

Finding the right buyer, and having the guts to trade O'Neill, are the biggest hurdles here. That makes O'Neill the weakest trade candidate on this list.

Still, Minnesota would be wise to deal O'Neill this season while they can still get some value from him. It will look like a smart decision during the offseason.

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