Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done a really good job finding value on the market. He's taken every avenue you can think of to add value to the roster.
Undrafted free agency and traditional free agency have been the two avenues of talent acquisition that he's thrived with the most. One area that hasn't yielded a lot of success is the trade market.
T.J. Hockenson was obviously a success, but there were multiple shots Adofo-Mensah has taken that haven't yielded positive results. Trading for former first-round pick Jalen Reagor and former second-round pick Ross Blacklock flopped, but the process is one that will yield great results in time.
The Vikings could trade for Shemar Stewart
Trades have been very commonplace for Adofo-Mensah in his tenure and another one could be emerging. Could the Vikings trade for a 2025 first-round pick? That option could present itself due to a bizarre contract issue.
Could the Vikings strike a trade for Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Shemar Stewart? It was a question that I was asked recently, and it's a fascinating discussion.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Stewart out of Texas A&M at 17th overall and his skill set was perfect to develop on the edge. Unfortunately, they are locked in a contract dispute which has become all too normal for the Bengals.
What are the two sides disputing? A clause that would allow the Bengals to void guarantees if something were to happen. They didn't do it for either Amarius Mims or Myles Murphy, who were their last two first round picks, which has Stewart rightfully upset that they are asking him to do it.
"I’m not asking for nothing y’all have never done before," Stewart told reporters Tuesday, referencing the Bengals. "But in y’all case, y’all just want to win arguments [more] than winning more games."
Why would the Bengals end up trading him? There is discussion that he could end up sitting out the year and re-entering next year's NFL Draft. There are two pivotal dates with Stewart's situation that will end up mattering:
- August 5th: If Stewart doesn't sign by this date, he cannot be traded to another club and can only sign with the Bengals
- April 23rd, 2026: If Stewart has not signed by this date, he will be entered into the 2026 NFL Draft
The Bengals could choose to cut ties early if they feel the situation is beyond repair. If that happens, should the Vikings make a move?
I had Stewart ranked very highly compared to consensus, as he was my fourth overall player in the class.
Stewart is a top 10 player who is going to rise up draft boards in a similar way to how Travon Walker did in 2022. He can do a little bit of everything for you, including play the run and kick inside.
The Vikings might not need an edge rusher, but a player like Stewart who can do everything for you is a game-changer. This is a game wrecker that would be perfect for the NASCAR package the Vikings like to run.
He had everything you could want from a pass rusher from a size and athleticism perspective. The one thing he didn't have consistently was production. Some of that was poor finishing, while the other element was his play-style, as the Aggies asked him to play in a non-conducive way for sack production.
Think of Stewart in this way: he's a more refined Danielle Hunter right now with the potential to become a top edge rusher in the league.
It's no secret that the Vikings love to continue adding pieces to the defensive line, as they did on multiple occasions this offseason. Stewart would be an excellent fit to their edge room, as he's also got the ability to kick inside on obvious pass rush situations.
The question still remains: should the Vikings consider making the move?
There are two schools of thought when considering this move. Is it wise for the Vikings to use that kind of draft capital on an edge rusher, and is Stewart worth the price, which would likely be next year's first-round pick? The latter is a no question yes, but answering the first part is where the discussion really lies.
I thought an edge rusher could have made more sense than others did due to how much defensive coordinator Brian Flores loved to use the NASCAR package last year. However, things have changed since the NFL Draft. Andrew Van Ginkel got an extension and the moves the Vikings made on the defensive line signal less use of the NASCAR package, which means less snaps for edge rushers overall.
The way Adofo-Mensah is building this team, the move doesn't make a ton of sense. Edge rusher is in a really good spot right now. Maybe next year they can spend a day two pick on it to fortify the group with Van Ginkel entering a contract year, but they don't need to add a player with that kind of pedigree to the room.
If they did, it would be due to the sheer talent Stewart has. As things sit, it's a cool fantasy booking idea to get Stewart in the building. However, if the situation with Stewart got to that point, it's very unlikely to happen.
Even though it's unlikely, I'm hoping it happens.
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