The Minnesota Vikings have positioned themselves as NFC contenders, and back-to-back losses should create urgency for the team at the upcoming NFL trade deadline.

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com recently named the Vikings and Lions as potential buyers before the Nov. 5 deadline. Here was his take on Minnesota: 

“No one expected them to start 5-2, and yet the NFC North is suddenly loaded with potential playoff contenders. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, meanwhile, isn’t a stranger to an in-season splash, landing T.J. Hockenson from the rival Detroit Lions in 2022.”

The Vikings entered the season with few glaring weaknesses on their roster, and they leveraged that balance during a 5-0 start to 2024. Their situation has changed, however, over the past two weeks. 

If the Vikings do go on the offensive prior to this year’s trade deadline, here’s one potential target for each of team’s most glaring needs:

Left tackle 

Trade target: Cam Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville appears to be headed for a fire sale. A loss to the surging Philadelphia Eagles this week would send the Jags to 2-7. They have multiple attractive assets for contending teams to target, with Robinson being near the top of the list. 

He’s expensive, so it remains to be seen how much of his remaining salary the Jaguars would be willing to eat in a deal. A 2025 fifth-round pick — the Vikings currently have two of them — for a clear upgrade over David Quessenberry feels like the right price for a player Jacksonville is likely planning to move on from this offseason.

UPDATE: Vikings land new starting left tackle in trade with Jaguars. Here’s what Minnesota is getting

Cornerback

Trade target: Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are already positioned as sellers, shipping out wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Tuesday for a swap of mid-round draft picks. Could they be willing to move on from a former No. 8 overall draft pick in Horn as well?

Horn is widely viewed around the league as a potential franchise cornerback, he just hasn’t gotten there yet because of injuries. He’s yet to play more than 13 games in a season. The talent is there, though, and the contract — he’s locked up through the 2025 season on a $12.5 million fifth-year option — is more than reasonable for a player with his potential.

MORE: Vikings, Panthers trade proposal would send potential superstar corner to Minnesota to aid aging secondary

The price could be a hurdle for a Vikings team with just three 2025 draft picks. But if the Panthers are willing to take 2026 picks, Horn could — and should — be on the table for Minnesota.

Defensive tackle

Trade target: Sebastian Joseph-Day, Tennessee Titans

The Vikings are among the NFL leaders in sacks, but their pass rush efficiency is graded 26th overall by PFF entering Week 9. It’s the interior pass rush in particular that could use a boost, and Joseph-Day represents a realistic option. 

A potential deal here checks a lot of boxes. The Titans are awful, among the frontrunners for next year’s No. 1 overall pick with a 1-6 record. Joseph-Day is cheap, signing with Tennessee in the offseason on a one-year deal worth $4 million. And he’s produced, racking up 15 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss while playing just 43% of the Titans’ defensive snaps.

The Vikings could potentially add Joseph-Day for a swap of late-round picks in 2026, which would be ideal for their situation. 

MORE: NFL power rankings Week 9: Are Vikings still a top-10 team without LT Christian Darrisaw?