Recently, there has been online speculation about a potential trade between the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets, involving wide receiver Jordan Addison and All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner.
While it’s purely speculation for now, if the Vikings see Gardner as a key piece in their pursuit of a championship, it’s a move worth considering this offseason.
Gardner entered the NFL in 2022 and, at just 24 years old, has already established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks. Adding him to Minnesota’s roster could significantly strengthen their defense, potentially making them one of the best units in the NFL next season.
Grade the Trade Proposal: Minnesota Vikings send Jordan Addison to New York Jets in exchange for Sauce Gardner
Minnesota Vikings
Given Gardner’s age and impressive performance so far in his NFL career, the Jets would likely demand at least one first-round pick in any potential trade.
By including Addison in the proposal, the Vikings manage to keep their 2024 first-round pick. However, to finalize the deal, they still part ways with their 2026 first-round selection.
Some may question why the Vikings would consider trading Addison after just two seasons.
While he has performed well on the field, he has faced off-the-field issues, including an incident expected to lead to a suspension at the start of next season. Additionally, if he continues to excel, he’ll eventually seek a significant contract.
With Minnesota already committing a massive deal to All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, they may be reluctant to have two wide receivers earning over $25 million per season. Plus, if J.J. McCarthy emerges as their franchise quarterback, they’ll need financial flexibility to extend him down the line.
Rather than risking Addison leaving in a few years with nothing in return, the Vikings could capitalize now by trading him to the Jets in exchange for Gardner.
Along with parting ways with a 2026 first-round pick, Minnesota would also need to be prepared to give Gardner a lucrative extension. He’ll likely want to become the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, but with the potential to anchor the Vikings’ defense for the next decade, that investment could be well worth it.
So, is this a fair deal? Did the Vikings give up too much, or would it take even more to convince the Jets to move on from Gardner?
