Vikings urged to trade 4th-most used offensive weapon because of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of talented players.

But as far as the passing game goes, it's really Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and everyone else.

Jalen Nailor, the No. 3 wide receiver, is on the field a lot. But he doesn't get a lot of action with the football coming his way.

That makes him a logical trade candidate, writes ESPN's Kevin Seifert.

"He is a key part of the Vikings' three-receiver sets and has played the fourth-highest percentage of snaps (74.1%) of any offensive player," Seifert writes. "But in the Vikings' efforts to feed Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Nailor has been targeted only 26 times this season. (He has caught 13 of those throws for 162 yards and a touchdown.) The Vikings aren't looking to trade Nailor, but they have depth behind him in veteran Adam Thielen. Nailor is also a pending free agent. With Jefferson set to count for $39 million against the 2026 cap, and Addison eligible for an extension this upcoming offseason, Nailor could move on next year anyway."

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Nailor, with his contract coming up, would only be of major interest to another contending team. It'd make sense for the Vikings to send him somewhere in the AFC if they do indeed move him.

Minnesota has bigger worries than its WR3, anyway. The Vikings have to solve quarterback.

J.J. McCarthy is expected to be back now that Carson Wentz is out for the year, but the second-year QB only looked good in one of his eight quarters to start the season.

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Behind him is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer along with the newly signed John Wolford. If McCarthy doesn't get the job done, there isn't much hope here.

Nailor won't make or break McCarthy's success. It might be time for the Vikings to cash in.

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