Teasley Keeping Trade Conversations Going

The more wins that come early for Minnesota, the more chances for a trade or two before November 10th. The trade of JJ freed up what, almost $5 million?

The Vikings’ GM doesn’t say very much. What he did say, though, is that his front office will continue working the phones as the leadership searches for a competitive advantage.

Nolan Teasley spoke to the media for roughly ten minutes yesterday. Doing so came in response to the news of J.J. McCarthy being sent eastward toward The Big Apple. At least part of the rationale for the McCarthy move, per Teasley, is that there’s now another draft pick in the coffers. Quite possibly, that added 5th will end up being used in an upcoming deal.

The Vikings’ GM is Looking to Keep Trade Chatter Going

Part of what makes the McCarthy move a poor decision (in my mind, at least) is that a 5th isn’t a good enough return.

Teasley disagrees.

He spoke about some in-house analysis having been done to gauge the value that McCarthy could demand on the trade market. Some of the calculus involved looking into past trades for some comps, Teasley explained. The GM didn’t specifically mention any examples, but the Trey Lance deal for a 4th comes to mind as a recent trade that helps to add context to what the Vikings have decided.

More fascinating, perhaps, is how Teasley went on to discuss how he understands that 5th Rounder.

Teasley’s description of that shiny new 5th: “We got to the point where the return made sense for us now. To get an asset that, in all honesty, is going to help us in the future or it could help us this season. We don’t know, y’know?”

To translate, Nolan Teasley is saying that the 5th offers some flexibility. Minnesota can sit on that pick, opting to use it on a player in the 2027 NFL Draft. That’s obviously the standard way to use a pick: cash it in for a young lad next April.

But then there’s the other possibility that Teasley refers to when he says the 5th could help in 2026. To do so, the 5th will be used as currency to bring in a player to graft onto the roster. Does that possibility that Teasley mentions end up looking prophetic?

Check out how the Vikings’ GM answered a concluding question about his openness to trading: “We’re going to try to be involved. And we’ve said this from the beginning: we’re going to try to be involved in everything as much as possible to improve this roster for the present and for the future. So, we’ll be active, you just won’t always know about it.”

Note that Mr. Teasley offered that final answer with a cheeky grin on his face, so there’s a bit of personality in his acknowledgement of Minnesota’s front office preferring to keep its cards close to its chest.

Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; April 25, 2025; A wide shot captures the stage video board displaying “The Pick Is In” for the Minnesota Vikings during the third round of the NFL Draft, as fans and team personnel await the announcement inside the draft theater in Green Bay. Mandatory Credit: Perry Knotts-Getty Images

At this point, the position that most needs help is at running back. Recent weeks have involved several moves to improve the depth (DeeJay Dallas, Jerome Ford, Jaret Patterson) but the possibility exists that another runner is the move at the trade deadline.

Or, perhaps, the Josh Oliver ailment means adding a tight end makes sense. What about a depth passer? Kevin O’Connell and Nolan Teasley professed confidence in the remaining trio, but it’s hard to take that seriously. Max Brosmer isn’t a very good QB3.

Another point that Teasley made is that the future is unpredictable. Nobody truly knows how things will unfold. As a result, Teasley preferred to have a 5th since that gives the Vikings a bit more ammo for a future deal.

At the very least, the Vikings have signalled a desire to keep conversations going. The NFL’s trade deadline arrives on Tuesday, November 10th, so we’re talking about a seemingly far off date that’s closer than many realize.

Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) and head coach Kevin O’Connell hug before the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Next up for the Vikings is a Week 4 game against the Miami Dolphins. In theory, the Dolphins are a team to monitor around the deadline since they’re fully embracing a rebuild.

...but, how do we trade Teasley?

Kyler is going to have to look legit goodish, for an in-season trade to make sense.

No point in trading for someone if we don't have a QB that can compete in the playoffs.

Like, if we're still a bottom half offense after another 3 weeks, is a stud RB going to change the math enough to be worth it?

medaille wrote:

Kyler is going to have to look legit goodish, for an in-season trade to make sense.
No point in trading for someone if we don't have a QB that can compete in the playoffs.
Like, if we're still a bottom half offense after another 3 weeks, is a stud RB going to change the math enough to be worth it?

No but if that happens, a different QB might be

pattersaur wrote:

No but if that happens, a different QB might be

Like what are the odds of a Herbert or Burrows or Cousins mid-season trade? Probably the only QBs you could just drop in and feel good about the rest of the season.

Kinda starting to sound like Maye might be available if KOC wants to bet his job on it.

Wonder if the Tyreek Hill rumors are a sign Addison could get traded?

Teasley is very good at convincing me he’s a moron as the days go on. He’s making Kwesi look amazing.

medaille wrote:

Like what are the odds of a Herbert or Burrows or Cousins mid-season trade? Probably the only QBs you could just drop in and feel good about the rest of the season.

The odds of any of those QB’s being available is likely near zero. Murray has to work out. Otherwise we are praying on another reclamation project next year. It’s unlikely we will be in position to draft a guy and even if we were, KOC and company have no patience to develop a guy and would likely hinder him.

Teasley’s guy is Murray and that’s our ride or die. We just have to hope he gets it together.

Zanary wrote:

...but, how do we trade Teasley?

Why, you have to give the man a chance to prove he has a plan.

The special teams unit and defense are both top 5 in the NFL. Right now.

After the bye Vikings have 7 home games, 4 road games, and 1 neutral game on Minneapolis time there's a clear path for the Vikings to get the #1 seed.

Teasley has an extra 3rd, 3 extra 5ths, and an extra 6 th

No 4th or 7th.

Teasley has picks and the JJ trade created 5 million in cap space.

I think teasley is gonna make moves.

Havoc wrote:

Teasley is very good at convincing me he’s a moron as the days go on. He’s making Kwesi look amazing.

Havoc wrote:

Teasley is very good at convincing me he’s a moron as the days go on. He’s making Kwesi look amazing.

We need to give the guy some time. I mean Kwesi got 3 years. Teasely has been here like 4 months?

I was a JJ McCarthy fan while he was here, but even I can admit that he still looked too slow and mechanical with his processing during training camp. His throwing mechanics were improved though so he took that coaching point in the off-season.

I may not agree with trading JJM now and for the comp we got, but Teasely and everyone in the Vikings organization saw him on a daily basis. There was something there that precipitated the trade. Either he wanted out and it was starting to get uncomfortable or the Vikings had seen enough to know he wasn't likely to develop into a starter by the end of his rookie deal.

We'll get to judge if this was a bad decision or not down the road. Until then, I loved the Teasely hire and I think he deserves time to show how he can build a roster.

Teasely was hired June 1.

4 months ago.

Some are unhappy?

Proverbs 26:4

1VikesFan wrote:

Why, you have to give the man a chance to prove he has a plan.

That's just it...I'm looking for any initial signs, and it's not inspiring.

I know that it's only been a few months, and I know that he was brought in AFTER the draft, etc.

What I'm seeing, though, is...well, KOC looks like he's double-fisting antidepressants, people are seeming more subdued, something feels like there's a glum cloud over the team. It's not enough to keep us from being 3-0, likely won't stop us from being 4-0 or even 5-0 going into the bye. We have a gentle schedule for the next couple of games, and the league's most vicious defense.

That said...I dunno, maybe it's from trading a kid that had been very popular in the locker room, maybe the behind-the-scenes culture is more businesslike, but something is more dour in Purple People Land.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

We need to give the guy some time. I mean Kwesi got 3 years. Teasely has been here like 4 months?
I was a JJ McCarthy fan while he was here, but even I can admit that he still looked too slow and mechanical with his processing during training camp. His throwing mechanics were improved though so he took that coaching point in the off-season.
I may not agree with trading JJM now and for the comp we got, but Teasely and everyone in the Vikings organization saw him on a daily basis. There was something there that precipitated the trade. Either he wanted out and it was starting to get uncomfortable or the Vikings had seen enough to know he wasn't likely to develop into a starter by the end of his rookie deal.
We'll get to judge if this was a bad decision or not down the road. Until then, I loved the Teasely hire and I think he deserves time to show how he can build a roster.

⬆️

Havoc wrote:

Teasley is very good at convincing me he’s a moron as the days go on. He’s making Kwesi look amazing.

"Contracts are not infinite"

What has Teasley done to deserve any criticism? He traded a player he had to. It happens.

Canthony wrote:

"Contracts are not infinite"

What has Teasley done to deserve any criticism? He traded a player he had to. It happens.

That's clearly not the consensus take, though. Much of the fanbase, didn't think that this needed to happen now or for this amount.

medaille wrote:

That's clearly not the consensus take, though. Much of the fanbase, didn't think that this needed to happen now or for this amount.

I will say this again..

"Contracts are not infinite"

We ran out of time. He was way too young when he was drafted. He will get it, but just won't be with the Vikings unfortunately.

Canthony wrote:

I will say this again..
"Contracts are not infinite"
We ran out of time. He was way too young when he was drafted. He will get it, but just won't be with the Vikings unfortunately.

I agree he was too young.

JJ had holes in his game, that KO must've? should've? known.

Was KO's assessment of JJ off? Because, 2 years into it, his game still has the same holes.

And things worked out so that the "best" course of action was to trade him to NYG for 5th round pick in Week 3.

This organization completely whiffed on JJ.