Inside The Vikings

B/R Proposes Two D-Line Trade Targets for Vikings

Do either or both of these players make sense as trade targets for Minnesota?
Will Ragatz|
B/R Proposes Two D-Line Trade Targets for Vikings
B/R Proposes Two D-Line Trade Targets for Vikings

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are going to be in the market for additions to their defensive front this offseason. They have to be. Their top three edge rushers — Danielle Hunter, D.J. Wonnum, and Marcus Davenport — are all unrestricted free agents, and their defensive tackle room consists of Harrison Phillips and a bunch of replacement-level players.

They can and will add to those positions via free agency and the draft, but the other route to do so is making trades. Bleacher Report recently proposed two names as potential trade targets for the Vikings: Eagles DE Josh Sweat and Patriots DT Davon Godchaux.

If Hunter departs, trading for an edge-rusher on an expiring contract, like Philadelphia's Josh Sweat, could give Minnesota a stopgap option. 

Minnesota should also look to boost its defensive front, and New England Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux could help. He played under defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Miami and is entering the final year of his current contract.

Sweat has one year left on his contract, with a $9 million cap hit in 2024 and nearly $21.5 million spread out across four void years (which would be dead money for the Eagles). The 2021 Pro Bowler turns 27 in March and could be a one-year addition for the Vikings if they lose Hunter. Sweat finished 17th in the NFL this year with 68 pressures. His best season came in 2022, when he had 11 sacks and an 86.6 PFF grade.

Godchaux is also on an expiring contract; his 2024 cap hit is $11.8 million, with $7.15 million of that coming from his base salary. The 29-year-old has 93 career starts under his belt, 21 of which came under Brian Flores in Miami from 2019-20.

Sweat could make sense as a Vikings trade target, depending on the cost of acquiring him. He's a legit No. 1 edge rusher who would give them a big boost in 2024 and could potentially be re-signed next offseason. Godchaux makes far less sense; his PFF grade has been below 55 in each of the last two seasons and he turns 30 in November.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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