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5 Trade Candidates on Defense the Vikings Should Monitor

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Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin (20) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Suppose Minnesota Vikings general manager Rob Brzezinski is going to fire off a trade this offseason. The quarterback may be the popular position for the theory. However, there are also some good options on the defensive side of the ball.

Five Names Make Sense for Vikings’ Trades on Defense

The main areas the Vikings need to strengthen on defense are the secondary and linebacker positions, but in truth, there’s room to enhance at every position. Several players on the trade block should interest the decision-makers in Minnesota.

Marlon Humprey (CB), Baltimore Ravens

A former All-Pro cornerback, Marlon Humphrey played the worst season of his career in 2025, posting a 49.9 overall PFF grade with a 42.9 PFF coverage grade while missing 16.5% of his tackles. Not the standard expected from a two-time

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Vikings defensive trade candidates
Dec 27, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) celebrates his interception during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Images

first team All-Pro. Humphrey doesn’t turn 30 until later in the year, so he should still have plenty to offer, while being eager to prove last season was just a blip

With Humphrey’s cap figure climbing over $26 million in 2026 and having just one season left on his current deal, Baltimore may look to find a trade suitor. It would cost the Vikings just over $7 million for the 2026 season, which would be a steal if Humphrey returns to anything like his best.

Patrick Queen (LB), Pittsburgh Steelers

Patrick Queen represents another chance for Brzezinski to try and buy low on a former All-Pro on the back of a poor season. A former first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers paid big to swoop Queen away from their divisional rivals when he hit free agency.

The move hasn’t worked for Queen, who regressed badly to the worst season of his career in 2025. Queen is set to enter the 2026 campaign on an expiring deal. Getting his contract off the books would make sense as the Steelers and their new head coach look to freshen things up.

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Daron Payne (DT), Washington Commanders

Washington is under pressure heading into 2026, a year removed from making the playoffs with a rookie QB. They only managed five wins in 2025. Theymust improve their defense after ranking 31st in EPA per play allowed, which might include trading Daron Payne.

A former first-round pick by Washington back in 2018, and a Pro Bowler in 2022, the longtime Washington standout has declined in recent seasons while on a big contract. If they want to cut ties to save money, a year before Payne becomes a free agent and the Vikings can get him relatively cheaply, there’s a player there who is yet to turn 29 for Brian Flores to try and revitalize.

Deonte Banks (CB), New York Giants

Deonte Banks was often linked with the Vikings in the build-up to the 2023 draft as the team searched for a lockdown cornerback – they still are. Minnesota selected WR Jordan Addison with the 23rd overall pick, and Banks went to the New York Giants with the next pick.

Dec 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks (2) returns a punt for a touchdown in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It hasn’t worked for Banks in New York, and he could already be surplus to requirements.

Quan Martin (S), Washington Commanders

We go back to Washington and back to a high draft that hasn’t worked out in the pros, with safety Quan Martin. A second-round pick in 2023, Martin has been a regular starter in Washington over the last two seasons but hasn’t produced the expected results of a high draft pick.

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Nov 13, 2025; Madrid, Spain; Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin (20) at press conference at Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

With a lot of salary cap space to play with, Washington should look to bolster their defense in free agency, leaving Martin available. His biggest struggles are in coverage, but his strength is downhill, which Flores should be able to utilize in his defense.


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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

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Jos Buttler Pulls Off Stunning Run-Out As Gujarat Titans Clinch Last-Ball Thriller vs Delhi Capitals. Watch

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Gujarat Titans (GT) stole victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) by just 1 run in a dramatic IPL 2026 encounter on Wednesday. Needing 2 off the final ball, DC batter David Miller missed Prasidh Krishna‘s delivery. However, GT wicket-keeper batter Jos Buttler made a terrific direct hit, resulting in Kuldeep Yadav getting run-out as he looked to scramble a single. Needing 13 off the final over, DC brought the equation down to 2 off 2 balls. But Krishna roared back with two excellent final deliveries to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

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DC vs GT, IPL 2026: As it happened

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Gujarat Titans edged Delhi Capitals by one run in a humdinger finish in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which will be replayed in the minds of everyone inside the Arun Jaitley Stadium for a long time to come. David Miller very nearly pulled off the impossible, but the run-out of Kuldeep Yadav on the last ball led to one of the great IPL finishes going in GT’s favour, as they got their first win of IPL 2026.

Miller had been extraordinary. Arriving at the crease with Delhi still some distance from the target, he retired hurt on 12 due to an injured left hand. When he came back, boundaries came in clusters off his bat. Miller ended up at 41 not out off 20 balls in the end, and yet it wasn’t enough to give Delhi Capitals a win, as they ended up at 209/8.

The pivotal moment came with two runs needed off two balls: Miller turned down a single off the penultimate ball, gambling on finishing it himself rather than trusting Kuldeep with the equation. Prasidh, with nerves of steel, denied him the winning finish with a short, slower ball, as Kuldeep was run out by a sharp throw from Jos Buttler, leaving Miller and DC heartbroken.

KL Rahul had given Delhi every reason to believe with a fluent 92 off 52 balls, laced with 11 fours and four sixes. But Rashid Khan had done the bulk of the damage with the ball to keep GT in the game, and eventually won the match at the end in a dramatic fashion.

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With IANS inputs


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Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash

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Cognitive boost from exercise can extend until the following day, shows UCL study

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The cognitive boost from exercise can last until the following day according to a study by the
University College London (UCL), published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition
and Physical Activity.

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Conor Benn responds to reports Regis Prograis is ‘badly injured’ for their fight

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Conor Benn has had his say on the claims that Regis Prograis is injured heading into their fight this weekend.

Benn and Prograis collide in a 150lb catchweight bout in the co-main event of the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov card at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

It sees Benn back in action for the first time since his two fights with bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr in 2025. Eubank came out on top in the first meeting, but in the rematch Benn dropped his opponent on his way to a dominant unanimous decision win.

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Those two contests took place at 160lbs, with Benn now planning to return to the welterweight division, starting with this catchweight bout against Prograis on Saturday.

Around a week ago, it was heavily rumoured that former super-lightweight world champion Prograis was ‘badly injured’ and would be forced to pull out of the fight, but instead the 37-year-old is proceeding with the showdown.

Benn has now spoken out about the matter, telling Boxing News that the outcome will be the same irrespective of the condition of Prograis.

“Whether he’s injured or not isn’t my problem….I ain’t bothered about if he’s injured or not. If he’s injured it’s not a smart move on his end. He’s getting paid a fortune. If he isn’t injured, it’s not going to make a difference regardless, the outcome will still be the same.”

This weekend’s card will be broadcast live on Netflix, and also includes a British heavyweight title fight between Jeamie TKV and Richard Riakporhe, and another heavyweight battle as Justis Huni meets Frazer Clarke.

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Major teaser dropped for WWE SmackDown ahead of WrestleMania 42 involving Randy Orton

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Randy Orton’s rivalry with Cody Rhodes ahead of WWE WrestleMania 42 may get even more heated on the next episode of SmackDown.

Things have been heating up in WWE lately, which is expected considering the fact that WrestleMania 42 is just around the corner. Several storylines appear to be reaching their conclusion at The Showcase of The Immortals. One of the most anticipated climaxes of a rivalry is the one between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, Pat McAfee was revealed to be the mystery man whom Orton was talking to on the phone in recent weeks. McAfee appeared on SmackDown last week and assisted The Viper in fending off an attack from Rhodes before revealing his alliance.

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Interestingly, CM Punk recently fired shots at Pat McAfee in a pipebomb promo on RAW, while also targeting other names like Roman Reigns and even Vince McMahon. The involvement of Pat McAfee has clearly transcended brands. Furthermore, in a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, the veteran also noted that he had some things to say on the upcoming episode of SmackDown, confirming his appearance and teasing an escalation in the feud between Orton and Rhodes.

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“Friday Night, live from San Jose, I think I got some things to say. I think we will have a good time there on SmackDown,” McAfee said.

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Pat McAfee also fired back at CM Punk after WWE RAW

CM Punk’s promo on RAW also got a response from Pat McAfee in kind.

Taking to X/Twitter, McAfee noted that he had heard Punk’s pipebomb promo, calling him a Punk a** b**ch. He also claimed that Randy Orton was the saviour who was going to bring the pro wrestling scene back on track, listing his various achievements in WWE over the years.

With how things have been going so far, it appears that the match between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes at WWE WrestleMania 42 will be one of the most intense matches in recent memory. For now, it remains to be seen what Pat McAfee has to add to the situation on the next episode of SmackDown.


If you use any quotes from this article, please credit the source and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.

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