Denver Broncos trade options with the Minnesota Vikings
1. WR Tim Patrick to the Vikings
Tim Patrick has been a constant subject when it comes to trade rumors not only this offseason, but we were talking about it last year as well.
Patrick is coming off of the best season of his NFL career in which he caught 51 passes for 742 yards and six touchdowns. That career year led to Patrick getting a second-round restricted free agent tender from the Denver Broncos, not exactly a big-time contract but a substantial raise from what he was previously making.
Even with that, there’s no doubt that Patrick’s future in Denver is up for debate.
The Broncos and GM George Paton specifically have labeled Courtland Sutton as a core player on the team and someone that they want to ultimately take care of financially. If it’s the Denver Broncos plan to sign Courtland Sutton to a long-term deal, how does Patrick fit in beyond this season?
Selfishly, you’d love to see the Broncos be able to re-sign Patrick to a team-friendly deal.
Is that what’s best for the team or for Patrick, though?
With so many teams around the league needing receiver help right now, including the Vikings, will Patrick’s value be any higher?
At the NFL trade deadline, some team will be trading for just half a season of Tim Patrick. Trading for him now or at least soon will give them a chance to get him for a full year. I don’t see his value being any higher than at league-wide roster cut time.
The Vikings’ wide receiver position is not deep, especially after Bisi Johnson went on IR with a knee injury.
Justin Jefferson suffered a little scare in training camp with an AC joint sprain.
Adam Thielen will be 31 later this month and has missed six games over the last two seasons.
Even with their recent addition of a recovering Dede Westbrook, the Minnesota Vikings could add a blooming WR2 in Tim Patrick who has experience in the offense (or at least, a version of it) that coordinator Klint Kubiak is going to run.
Patrick can not only make big plays as a receiver, but he will also block as the Vikings look to establish their ground game and feature Dalvin Cook.
Among no-brainer trade options for Tim Patrick if the Broncos deal him, the Vikings should be near the top of the list.