Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings made few additions this offseason beyond former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, in addition to ex-Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre.
Indeed after losing the likes of Ty Chandler and Jalen Nailor this offseason, many believed the Vikings could be primed to add some talents onto the back-end of their roster.
But the restraints of the cap and the unwillingness of the team to move off key veterans such as T.J. Hockenson and Brian O’Neill, who would have afforded Minnesota major cap relief, meant that Minnesota had pretty strict limitations on what they have been able to in free agency over the past couple of weeks.
However, according to On Sports Illustrated’s Will Ragatz, the Vikings could and should look to the trade market to make a splash this offseason, competing in what many believe will be the most competitive division in football.
Vikings Proposed to Give Up Pick #18 For Elite Running Back
Ragatz proposes that Minnesota part with their first round pick in April’s draft, #18 overall, in exchange for Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane and a fourth round pick.
“Can you imagine how fun Achane would be in the Vikings’ offense?” Ragatz wrote on Tuesday. “Kyler Murray with Achane, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson would be an absolutely loaded attack. If the Vikings can find a way to pry him out of Miami, Achane would give them the explosive running back they haven’t had in the O’Connell era.”
Although the conventional wisdom cautions against moving off valuable trade capital for a running back – let alone one three years into what tend to be short professional careers – Ragatz believes for a talent like Achane, a mid-first round pick would be worth it.
“We’re talking about a legitimate superstar who has seen his workload and output increase every year since he was drafted in the third round in 2023. Achane burst onto the scene with ridiculous big-play production as a rookie, putting up nearly 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns on only 130 touches. His 7.8 yards per carry that year are easily an NFL record for a running back with at least 100 carries.” Ragatz continued.
De’Von Achane Could Be Reunited With Former OC
And the selection of the Dolphins specifically as a trade partner makes sense: not only are the team evidently trying to clean house, having just traded Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, but new Minnesota assistant head coach, Frank Smith, was Achane’s offensive coordinator for all three years of the former third round pick’s NFL career to date.
“This isn’t completely random thinking, either.” Ragatz noted. “The notable connection here is that Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings hired Frank Smith as their assistant head coach this offseason. Smith spent the last four years as McDaniel’s offensive coodinator with the Dolphins. He is very familiar with the talents of the two players we’re about to dive into.”
Achane has become one of the most dynamic dual-threat backs in football since being drafted out of Texas A&M in 2023, and last season put up over 1,800 all-purpose yards with 12 total touchdowns.
Yet, a mid-first round pick for a running back that will need to be paid from the end of the season is still incredibly pricey, even for a player like Achane.
The Dolphins came out and claimed that their star back is not for sale early on Wednesday morning, but for that amount of draft compensation it would be very hard for Miami to say no.