With general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah no longer attached to the Minnesota Vikings, the frequency of trades may screech to a halt. But for the sake of argument, let’s assume interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has some tricks up sleeve. These are the top eight players — big names — he could target.

Eight names to watch as Minnesota explores trade-market upgrades, including quarterbacks, trench help, and a few surprise options.

Minnesota has an almost full draft pick cabinet to wheel and deal, so there’s plenty of ammunition.

The Vikings’ Options for a Blockbuster

A peek at the Vikings’ would-be trade targets, listed in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely to be targeted by Minnesota.

8. Dexter Lawrence | DT, NYG

Lawrence could be on the trade block, and in theory, the Vikings should ship their No. 18 pick to New York for Lawrence and a mid-rounder.

Minnesota would presumably cut Javon Hargrave and roll with a defensive tackle corps that includes Lawrence, Jalen Redmond, Jonathan Allen, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Lawrence is 29, meaning he has about 3-5 ultra-productive seasons left.

7. Drew Lock | QB, SEA

The Seattle Seahawks grabbed Sam Darnold from the Vikings last offseason — and drafted Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in Round 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Lock is expendable. If Kevin O’Connell does not have big dreams of onboarding a big-name quarterback like Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, or Malik Willis, Lock has shown flashes in the past and has a strong arm.

Minnesota can probably get him for a 6th-Round pick or so.

6. Will Levis | QB, TEN

Levis is reckless, and no one disputes it. He’s basically Tennessee’s version of J.J. McCarthy. But with Cam Ward firmly in his role as QB1, Levis doesn’t have much footing with the Titans. His next team can pry him away for a late-round pick.

Between McCarthy and Levis, maybe O’Connell could whisper to one and hope for the best. Like Lock, Levis also has a strong arm.

5. Keon Coleman | WR, BUF

The Buffalo Bills’ owner oddly threw Coleman under the bus early in the offseason. He claimed former head coach Sean McDermott was accountable for the “bad” pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Coleman’s stock is low, and needing a WR3, the Vikings could trade a 5th-Rounder or so for him.

4. Anthony Richardson | QB, IND

Richardson is just like Levis: plagued by injuries and inconsistent. He has every physical tool, though, necessary to succeed. The Indianapolis Colts used Daniel Jones, Philip Rivers, and Riley Leonard at quarterback down the stretch of the 2025 regular season — basically everyone not named Anthony Richardson.

The Vikings could ship a late-rounder to Indianapolis for Richardson, hoping to see if he’s ready to forge a redemption story.

3. Jerry Jeudy | WR, CLE

Jeudy hasn’t panned on in Cleveland — unless Jameis Winston is under center. He needs a competent quarterback, and with any luck, Minnesota will have one by early summer. The Vikings could also let Jalen Nailor depart in free agency, and replacing him with Jeudy would excite the fan base.

From the Browns’ perspective, it would be financially more navigable to trade Jeudy after June 1st, so this could be a summer talker for Minnesota.

2. Kyler Murray | QB, ARI

Murray didn’t earn the top spot on this list for one reason: recent momentum suggests the Arizona Cardinals may release him. The Vikings could sign Murray for “free.”

Murray ran a 4.38 forty before entering the NFL, he can throw the ball 65-70 yards, and he’s the fifth-most accurate passer in the history of the league. He may not be scripted in a lab for O’Connell’s offense, but if he’s available on the open market, how could a quarterback-needy team like Minnesota possibly ignore the value?

1. Mac Jones | QB, SF

The San Francisco 49ers have overtly stated this offseason that they “don’t see themselves trading” Jones, which means they want a 1st- or 2nd-Rounder to jar him loose. O’Connell and his lieutenants must decide if Jones is worth a juicy draft pick, perhaps sending a 2nd-Rounder to San Francisco for Jones and a 4th-Round pick (or something similar).

Jones isn’t exactly like Sam Darnold — he doesn’t have Darnold’s arm strength — but he will have come from the 49ers’ roster, just like Darnold, and was a 1st-Round pick five years ago, just like Darnold.

In eight starts last season, Jones produced Darnoldian numbers. He’s probably the next reclamation story in the making.

It all boils down to whether Minnesota can part with precious draft capital after a) Drafting poorly over the last four years, b) Having a roster that is old-ish subsequently.

Ishan Kishan and Aiden Markram will be crucial batters for their respective sides when the Men in Blue face South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22 in a Group 1 Super 8 clash. Both India and South Africa topped their respective groups to progress to the Super 8s.

Kishan is India’s leading run-getter in the tournament heading into the Super 8 stage. In four innings, he has scored 176 runs at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 202.30, with two half-centuries. On the other hand, Markram has scored 178 runs at an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 187.37, with two fifties.

Kishan has featured in 40 T20I matches so far. Ahead of the India vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash, we compare his stats with those of Markram after the latter had also played the same number of T20I matches.

Ishan Kishan vs Aiden Markram – Who has a better average and strike rate after 40 T20Is?

In 40 T20Is, Kishan has scored 1,187 runs at an average of 30.43 and a strike rate of 144.75. He has scored 318 runs in 11 T20Is against New Zealand at an average of 28.90 and a strike rate of 155.88. The southpaw has also scored 206 runs in five T20Is against South Africa at an average of 41.20 and a strike rate of 150.36. Also, he has 165 runs in six T20Is against Sri Lanka at a strike rate of 136.36.

After 40 T20Is, Markram had scored 1,130 runs, averaging 37.66 at a strike rate of 149.47. The Proteas batter had 251 runs in seven matches against West Indies at an average of 62.75 and a strike rate of 156.87. He had also scored 199 runs in five matches against Pakistan at an average of 39.80 and a strike rate of 177.67. Also, he scored 165 runs in five T20Is against India at a strike rate of 143.47.

Ishan Kishan vs Aiden Markram – Who has more 50-plus scores after 40 T20Is?

In 40 T20Is, Kishan has 10 50-plus scores to his name – one ton and nine fifties. He slammed 103 off just 43 balls against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram in January this year. The 27-year-old also struck 89 off 56 balls against Sri Lanka in Lucknow in February 2022 and 77 off 40 against Pakistan in Colombo in the group stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

(Kishan vs Markram – Batting stats comparison after 40 T20Is)

After 40 T20Is, Markram had nine half-centuries to his credit. His best at that stage was 70, which came off 48 balls against West Indies in St George’s in July 2021. The Proteas batter had also scored 63 off 31 balls against Pakistan in Centurion in April 2021. Of his T20I fifties at that stage, three had come against Pakistan and two each against England and West Indies.

Ishan Kishan vs Aiden Markram – Who has a better record in wins after 40 T20Is?

In 28 matches in wins, Kishan has scored 1,005 runs at an average of 35.89 and a strike rate of 150.22, with one hundred and eight fifties. In nine matches in losses, he has scored 157 runs, averaging 17.44 at a strike rate of 118.04, with one fifty. Kishan has 15 runs in one game that ended in no result and 10 runs in one match that ended in a tie.

(Kishan vs Markram – Batting stats comparison in wins after 40 T20Is)

In 24 matches in wins, Markram had scored 679 runs at an average of 42.43 and a strike rate of 149.88, with seven half-centuries. In 15 matches in losses, he had 451 runs, averaging 32.21 and a strike rate of 148.84, with two fifties. Markram did not bat in one game that ended in no result.

Ishan Kishan vs Aiden Markram – Who has a better record in chases after 40 T20Is?

In 12 T20Is in chases, Kishan has scored 336 runs at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 136.58, with three half-centuries. In 28 T20Is while batting first, he has 851 runs at an average of 31.51 and a strike rate of 148.25, with the aid of one ton and six half-centuries.

(Kishan vs Markram – Batting stats comparison in chases after 40 T20Is)

In 18 T20Is in chases, Markram had scored 434 runs at an average of 36.16 and a strike rate of 146.12, with three half-centuries. In 22 T20Is while batting first, he had 696 runs at an average of 38.66 and a strike rate of 151.63, with six fifties.