The Minnesota Vikings currently lead the NFC North at 5-0. However, their grip on that spot is tenuous, with the Detroit Lions being 4-1 and the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears each being 4-2. It is the most competitive division seen in the NFL since 2002, at least through the first six weeks. That means the Vikings must do everything in their power to maintain their advantage. Recent health setbacks at running back put them in a tough spot. So GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah went hunting for help on the trade market, including a phone call to Ryan Poles.
Eventually, the Vikings reunited with veteran Cam Akers, whom they acquired from the Houston Texans for a 6th round pick. However, it turns out he wasn’t their first choice. Darren Wolfson of SKOR North said on the Mackey & Judd podcast that Minnesota had another option in mind.
“Prior to the trade for Cam Akers, I’m led to believe the Vikings preferred Khalil Herbert of the Chicago Bears. (It’s) 100 percent confirmed, not reckless speculation: the Vikings had dialogue with Chicago. Absolutely had interest in Herbert. So it wasn’t Cam Akers or bust. Now clearly, the Bears wouldn’t do the parameters of the deal the Vikings worked out with Houston. My understanding is the Bears were looking for a little bit more, maybe like a fifth (round pick).”
Ryan Poles’ reply isn’t all that surprising.
The Bears’ former 6th round pick has been a rock solid player since being drafted in 2021. He’s a great fit for the outside-zone running system the Vikings deploy under head coach Kevin O’Connell. Herbert hasn’t done much of anything this season, losing snaps to the newly arrived D’Andre Swift and ascending youngster Roschon Johnson. One would think the Bears would jump at the chance to get a draft pick of any kind for Herbert, who is a free agent next March.
Demanding a 5th seems a little ignorant of the running back’s actual value. A likely explanation is Ryan Poles wasn’t wild about trading inside the division. So he raised the price to something where he felt the Vikings would say no but would be willing to do the deal if they somehow said yes. They opted for the former, shifting their focus to Akers.
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It seems ignorant to willingly and happily trade away a potential starting running back. He is limited with respect to his diversity at the position, but Roschon and D’Andre are one injury away from Khalil becoming extremely valuable to the offense. And “not done much of anything” is a tough sell, considering he has 0 carries in the last 3 games, and a grand total of 8 carries and 2 targets for the season. If D’Andre gets hurt or needs some time, I say we would regret dumping Khalil, especially if the postseason is something we are hoping for.
You won’t take a 6th for a RB that you never put on the field, but you will take a 6th for Justin Fields. Interesting.
Lua, we are living in relatively strange and abnormal times, including NFL football. Someday, there will be a new league of AI generated robots playing the game too. It will reduce injuries, and you might not have to pay salaries. The fans will be both human and humanoid. And it will be sooner than the year, 2525.
How is a proven, solid NFL running back only worth a 5th round draft pick?
Do not trade Herbert for peanuts. What if Swift gets injured? Only ignorant people would feel the selfish need to acquire a low draft choice rather than keep Herbert as an insurance policy on a run to the playoffs and possible Superbowl. Greedy little people with small hands who cannot see the larger picture with all the possibilities. Poles did the right thing by not trading a fine RB in Herbert to a division leader, if indeed he said no.