Despite the recent two-game skid and some pessimism on the team that has crept in during the past two weeks, the Minnesota Vikings are still very much in the thick of the NFC playoff picture.
Despite slipping to third in their own division, Minnesota is still one of the top teams in the conference by record and would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.
That makes them very much a contender, despite what their recent play might suggest. One of the biggest issues with the Vikings recently has been, surprisingly, the play of their defense. The defensive line and linebackers have not been able to create pressure like they were at the beginning of the season, and it’s putting strain on an already haphazard defensive backs unit.
One NFL analyst, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan, believes the solution to the Vikings’ recent woes may come at the trade deadline. The Vikings have already been active on the trade market, trading for familiar running back Cam Akers and then filling the hole left by an injured Christian Darrisaw with former Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson, but they may not be done.
Sullivan suggests the Vikings contact the Las Vegas Raiders about defensive tackle Adam Butler. Butler is familiar with defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the defense he likes to run from his time with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.
Despite not getting to the quarterback yet this season, Butler has one of the overall best seasons of his career in 2024 with the Raiders. Bringing Butler into the fold for the Vikings could give the team a great rotation of defensive tackles, keeping everyone fresher for longer and hopefully increasing their production.
Butler is currently on a one-year deal with the Raiders for only $1.8 million and would likely not command a high price. The price may be a bit higher than what the Vikings gave up for Robinson, but they should still be able to make a deal without touching their limited 2025 NFL Draft capital.
