Things seem to be turning around for the Minnesota Vikings. With the trade deadline right around the corner, could they end up being buyers? Perhaps for a player like Cincinnati Bengals’ wideout Tyler Boyd?
Not only did the Vikings improve to 3-4 with their huge upset win over the San Francisco 49ers this past Monday, but they also are doing it without star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson has missed some time due to a hamstring injury, leaving a gaping hole in Minnesota’s receiving corps.
Jefferson’s injury made it all the more likely that the Vikings would look to sell off some pieces between the time it happened and the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline, but they are turning things around and could change their minds to a completely different approach.
How about looking to the Bengals and seeing if Tyler Boyd is available?
Boyd is set to be a free agent this offseason, but he is still relatively young (he turns 29 next month) and could be an option for Minnesota to re-sign in the spring.
A duo of Jefferson and Boyd would certainly be nice, so the Vikings could kill two birds with one stone by filling their void at receiver for the time being and giving themselves a great tandem for the future.
Minnesota could over the Bengals a 2024 third-round draft pick and a seventh-rounder in exchange for Boyd. Cincinnati may very well let Boyd walk via free agency if it doesn’t move him, so this would be a pretty nice package to receive in return before he leaves for nothing.
Of course, the Bengals also have fellow wide out Tee Higgins to worry about. Both Boyd and Higgins are slated to be free agents, and it doesn’t seem probable that Cincy will retain both. That’s why it might make sense to traded Boyd now and simply re-sign Higgins in the offseason.
Would Cincinnati want to do that at this point? It’s debatable. The Bengals are 3-3 and are still in contention in the AFC North. Also, Joe Burrow is looking healthier, which could force them to stand pat.
Regardless, the Vikings should at least place a call to Cincy and see what’s up.
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