1 trade Vikings must make during 2026 NFL season bye week after getting Justin Jefferson back

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The Minnesota Vikings took advantage of their bye week to evaluate their options for adding depth at wide receiver. They brought in veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster for a workout after their 23-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Although no signing occurred immediately, this visit indicates that Minnesota is actively looking for ways to strengthen their lower depth chart, even with Justin Jefferson back in the lineup.

This search is understandable given the injuries that have impacted the offense and Jauan Jennings’ limited involvement through the first five games, but the most significant move the Vikings should consider before the trade deadline may lie elsewhere. Minnesota has arrived at their bye week with a 5-0 record largely due to Brian Flores creating one of the league’s most disruptive defenses. An undefeated team with such a strong defensive identity should prioritize reinforcing that strength rather than investing significant draft capital in another supplementary offensive player.

If the Los Angeles Chargers decide to sell after their 0-5 start, the Vikings should seriously consider making a trade for Khalil Mack.

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Khalil Mack would deepen the strength already carrying Minnesota

At first glance, trading for another pass rusher might seem unnecessary for a team that already generates consistent pressure. However, this is precisely what makes the fit interesting.

The Vikings would not be relying on Mack to come in and transform a struggling defensive front, but they would be adding him to a group that already includes Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jalen Redmond. This would allow defensive coordinator Brian Flores to use the veteran selectively, rather than thrusting him into a workload typically expected of a player relied upon to carry the entire pass rush.

Mack remains productive enough to justify this role. At age 35, he continues to create pressure and has the ability to win isolated matchups, which would provide Minnesota with additional options to disrupt opposing quarterbacks without sacrificing coverage behind the rush. With Turner and Van Ginkel already capable of attacking from various alignments, Flores could further diversify a defense that already challenges pre-snap identification.

The greater benefit would come from maintaining a fresh rotation. Minnesota’s defensive success has relied on constant pressure rather than a single player dominating every series, and adding another proven edge rusher would help preserve this approach as the season progresses. Instead of asking the same defenders to handle every critical passing down, the Vikings could rotate players more aggressively, protect them from excessive snap counts, and maintain their speed late in games when opposing offenses become more predictable.

This is vital for a team with realistic playoff ambitions, as the difference between an effective pass rush in October and one that remains fresh in January can be significant.

The Chargers’ situation makes the timing sensible

Los Angeles entered Week 6 with a record of 0-5, which alters the way the organization should evaluate its veterans on short-term contracts. Khalil Mack is not a long-term rebuilding piece for the Chargers, and if they believe their season is already slipping away, keeping an aging player on an expiring deal would provide limited future benefits.

In contrast, the Minnesota Vikings are operating on an entirely different timeline, boasting an undefeated record and a defense strong enough to support a legitimate playoff run. This difference in situations creates a viable trade market for Mack without forcing the Vikings to offer top-tier compensation. They should not enter discussions thinking it needs Mack to salvage the season, as the current roster has already shown it can win without him.

This advantageous position gives the Vikings leverage. If the asking price remains reasonable, they can justify spending a middle-round draft pick on a player who could immediately enhance their defense, but if the Chargers demand something closer to premium draft capital, Minnesota can simply walk away without jeopardizing its long-term plans.

Getting Justin Jefferson back changes where Minnesota should spend

The return of Justin Jefferson significantly changes how the Vikings should approach potential offensive reinforcements because Minnesota has struggled with offensive explosiveness at times, but the dynamics of their passing game improve greatly with their top receiver back in the lineup. Jefferson draws the kind of defensive attention that forces teams to adjust before the snap, and with Jordan Addison expected to return, Kyler Murray will have an additional reliable option on the perimeter.

All this makes the workout with JuJu Smith-Schuster a valuable example of the type of moves the Vikings should consider: low-cost, low-risk depth that does not require significant draft compensation, as the Vikings do not need to make another major investment in a wide receiver unless injuries worsen or their current rotation changes significantly. Once Jefferson and Addison are healthy, any new receiver would compete for touches with an offense that already includes T.J. Hockenson and a running game that showed improvement against New Orleans.

They definitely should focus on preparing for tougher games ahead, rather than simply addressing obvious weaknesses, as the best trade-deadline moves are not always reactions to clear deficiencies. The current roster possesses enough talent to reach the postseason if it remains healthy, allowing the front office to concentrate less on emergency fixes and more on what could be crucial as the schedule becomes more demanding.

Enhancing the pass rush fits this description, as it complements the Vikings’ existing strengths. Defensive coordinator Flores has successfully created pressure while disguising coverage, forcing quarterbacks to process quickly and often leading to mistakes before receivers have time to get open. Adding another edge defender who can win without relying on extra blitzers would make these defensive schemes even more effective, especially against experienced quarterbacks who can exploit aggressive pressure packages.

The trade would fit the Vikings’ current window

Minnesota entered the season with uncertainties in several areas, particularly at quarterback and along the offensive line, but five weeks into the season have provided enough evidence for the organization to adjust its expectations. They have demonstrated the ability to control games with their defense, protect leads, and win even when the offense is not functioning at its highest level. Quarterback Jared Murray has started to look more comfortable, and wide receiver Justin Jefferson’s return adds a crucial dimension to the passing game that was lacking earlier in the season.

It should encourage the front office to consider making a move that strengthens the existing formula instead of trying to reinvent it, and a more prudent approach involves identifying areas where a reasonable investment could have the greatest impact over the final months of the season.

Improving the defensive rotation would achieve this goal without placing excessive pressure on the offense or compromising future flexibility. If the Vikings can add another proven pass rusher at a manageable cost, they would enter the second half of the season with an even stronger defensive unit, which has been key to their 5-0 record. This would provide the team itself with more options, lessen the burden on the current starters, and better prepare Minnesota for the close games that often characterize playoff runs.

The bye week grants the Vikings an opportunity to reflect on what their undefeated start truly signifies, and the most evident conclusion is that they need targeted reinforcements in the areas that already provide the team’s greatest advantages.

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