3 Potential Vikings Trade Candidates 6 Days Before 53-Man Roster Deadline: Zavier Scott Among Potential Bait

The deadline for NFL teams to trim rosters to 53 players means the regular season is right around the corner, taking place on Sunday, Aug. 30. While it's an exciting time for fans, this is a terrifying period for Vikings players who don't know if they will have a job or if they will be forced to find employment elsewhere before the regular season begins.

It is estimated that around 1,100 players from across the league will be cut by this coming Sunday's deadline at 6:00 pm ET/5 p.m. CT. For many of those players, their dreams of playing in the NFL could come to an end. Meanwhile, others will search for their next opportunity to prove themselves.

A talented player might be traded instead of being cut. Other teams around the league could be looking for the type of player who isn't a great fit for another franchise. And if a team like the Vikings can get an asset in exchange for a player they were going to let go or didn't see a future with, that is a smart move rather than losing them for nothing.

Here are three players the Vikings may be able to trade before the deadline to get rosters under the 53-man limit.

3. Zavier Scott, running back

The Vikings probably wouldn't want to part ways with Zavier Scott, but it will all come down to whether Minnesota keeps three or four halfbacks on its roster for the 2026 NFL season. If the team only keeps three, it would come down to Scott or explosive rookie Demond Claiborne for the final spot after Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.

The 27-year-old running back played in 16 games for the Vikings last season and saw 254 combined snaps between offense and special teams. A team with uncertainty in its depth and a need to improve its special teams unit might be willing to give up a late-round pick for Scott.

With one-year remaining on his contract, all of Scott's $1,005,000 cap hit would come off the books if he's traded, per Spotrac.

2. J.J. McCarthy, quarterback

The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and hoped he could be the quarterback of the future for Minnesota. So far, he hasn't lived up to expectations, as he has been inconsistent. His grim outlook worsened with a forgettable preseason effort against the Ravens on Saturday, highlighted by missing a wide-open pass to wideout Myles Price (h/t VikingzFanPage).

JJ McCarthy misses Myles Price WIDE OPEN in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/Ix8VJrEPTe
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 22, 2026

However, McCarthy has shown flashes of brilliance with his legs and his arms. He has also struggled through injuries and abysmal offensive line play in front of him. A team could see him as a project that could be acquired rather inexpensively if the Vikings throw in the towel on developing the former Michigan standout, as he'll carry a cap hit just over $3.1 million in 2026 and 2027.

1. Jeshaun Jones, wide receiver

It sounds weird to say that the Vikings might be able to trade Jeshaun Jones, but he has had a solid training camp and is only 26 years old. Minnesota has a ton of talent at wide receiver heading into roster cuts and will have to part ways with at least one player who has looked great heading into the season.

Jones was a bright spot in Saturday's 13-3 loss to the Ravens, catching five of his six targets for 63 receiving yards—including a beautiful 36-yard grab off a pass from Carson Wentz right before halftime.

Carson Wentz throws it up to Jeshaun Jones who hauls in the tough 36-yard reception 👀

Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/GdocS8a5jq
— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2026

Jones has been a fringe player since joining the team in 2024. He has bounced around the practice squad and was even given a reserve/future contract. For a player to be that close to the 53-man roster and then look good leading up to cuts, some teams likely already have their eye on him if he is let go as part of the team's final transactions to trim the roster to 53 players.

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