The Minnesota Vikings already boast one of the league’s best collections of offensive skill players, led by Justin Jefferson. However, a recent trade request from NFC rival star Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders led to speculation about the Vikings.
However, not because such a move would not make the Vikings better. McLaurin is a two-time Pro Bowler and was a Second Team All-Pro.
Instead, even if the Vikings were interested in a trade for McLaurin, the logistics are challenging.
“Does he make sense for the Vikings to try and make a move for? Perhaps, but it isn’t likely,” Vikings Wire’s Andrew Harbaugh wrote on August 1. “Even with the temporary injury to Justin Jefferson, the team still boasts Jordan Addison as a leading candidate. McLaurin would be a nice surplus of weapons to have for J.J. McCarthy, Kevin O’Connell, and Wes Phillips on offense, but we have seen Kwesi Adofo-Mensah be patient and happy with his roster as is.”
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McLaurin, the No. 76 overall pick of the 2019 draft, caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns during the 2024 regular season. It was his fifth straight 1,000-yard campaign. McLaurin recorded 919 yards as a rookie.
However, McLaurin is also in the final season of a three-year, $69.6 million extension and, with $56.4 million in career earnings, is seeking a monster payday.
McLaurin would be an expensive luxury addition for the Vikings in a trade.
Vikings Talented Enough to Avoid Terry McLaurin Trade Pursuit
Teams with quarterbacks on rookie contracts, like McCarthy has with the Vikings, are often lauded for surrounding them with the best possible weaponry. And a trade for McLaurin would hedge against the Vikings losing someone to injury or other circumstances.
Jefferson has been hampered in training camp by a hamstring issue, while Addison faces a possible suspension stemming from his arrest in LA in July 2024.
Addison pleaded to a lesser charge of “wet reckless” and could miss multiple contests.
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Still, Addison has produced, with over 60 receptions, 800 yards, and at least 9 TDs in each of his first two seasons. He is also extension-eligible after this coming season. A trade for McLaurin all but takes that off the table. Jefferson is on a four-year, $140 million deal as is.
The Vikings also feature Pro Bowlers in running back Aaron Jones and tight end T.J. Hockenson, as well as solid backups at all three positions in Jalen Naior, Jordan Mason, and Josh Oliver.
Vikings Cap Situation Poses Ominous Threat
O’Connell would surely know how to utilize McLaurin if Minnesota were to trade for him, but his contract demands could prove cost-prohibitive.
ESPN’s John Keim reported McLaurin and the Commanders are “far apart” in negotiations.
“Washington has been reluctant to pay a wide receiver top-of-the-market money when he will be 31 as the extension begins,” Keim wrote on August 2. “McLaurin’s counter is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, who signed a deal worth $32.5 million per year this offseason. They were in the same draft class and have comparable statistics, but Metcalf is two years younger.”
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Jefferson is already on the books with an average annual salary of $35 million. Addison will not get that much, but he will see a significant raise from the $3.4 million AAV of his four-year, $13.7 million rookie scale deal.
A trade for McLaurin, while it would make the Vikings’ playmakers and offense that much more dangerous, appears to be a lofty proposition at this stage.
