General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has already been active, making moves for a backup running back in Cam Akers, and a new starting left tackle in Cam Robinison. There’s been plenty of fodder around the Vikings potentially adding a big piece on defense to help fuel a championship push.
What’s limiting Minnesota’s ability to swing a last-minute blockbuster, however, is its limited 2024 cap space and lack of future draft capital.
For that reason, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated believes the Vikings could actually change course and look to recoup a draft pick for a player at a position of strength. With the team deep at linebacker, Breer specifically named third-year pro Brian Asamoah II as someone the Vikings could make available prior to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. (EST) deadline.
“Some teams that aren’t necessarily looking to move guys off the roster still could due to their depth,” Breer said. “The opportunity could be there, as such, at linebacker, with Miami’s Duke Riley and Minnesota’s Brian Asamoah II.”
A move like this would actually make a lot of sense for Minnesota, which currently holds just three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including none after the fifth round. The Vikes could theoretically look to recoup a sixth or seventh round pick for the 24-year-old Asamoah, who’s established himself as a core special teamer since getting drafted No. 66 overall in 2022 out of Oklahoma.
Asamoah fills a reserve linebacker role for Minnesota, though he’s played just 14 total defensive snaps on the season, even with starter Blake Cashman missing multiple weeks with a toe injury. He’s been active for all eight games, though, and has logged 137 total snaps on special teams.
We’re talking about the edges of the 53-man roster here, but these tend to be the kind of moves that happen on the day of the NFL trade deadline. A contending team like the Green Bay Packers, who are familiar with the Vikings and are notoriously terrible on special teams, could be in the market for a player like Asamoah.
If Minnesota can get a 2025 Day 3 pick back in return, it would likely be interested.