The Minnesota Vikings should look to move Laquon Treadwell before the trade deadline that is approaching in a few weeks.
Treadwell was a first-round draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Since being taken by the Vikings, he has had almost no impact. In that time, he has accumulated a total of six catches. This may be due to the over-congestion in the Vikings talented wide receiving group more than Treadwell’s lack of talent. His game tape from his days at Ole Miss show how much upside he has.
Minnesota Vikings Should Deal Laquon Treadwell to the New York Giants
The emergence of Stefon Diggs as an elite receiver in the league has solidified him as the number one option for the Vikings. Adam Thielen has been a model of consistency for more than a year now and is clearly locked in as the second best passing option on this team. The Vikings also have a Pro Bowl caliber tight end in Kyle Rudolph who sees plenty of targets, especially in the red zone. Michael Floyd was just activated for the Vikings Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears and already began to make an impact. The Vikings also have a veteran receiver in Jarius Wright who can step in and have an impact at any given time.
This talented core of targets for the Vikings play-callers has led to Treadwell being somewhat lost in the rotation. It hasn’t helped him that the Vikings have had so much turbulence at quarterback due to injuries recently. Any chance for consistency and finding a groove in the offense has been hindered to start the 2017-18 season.
One team that could be a great fit for Treadwell could be the New York Giants. This weekend saw the Giants lose their star wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for the season. Following the news of season-ending surgery, Marshall posted a cryptic message on Instagram hinting possible retirement. The Giants also lost Dwayne Harris for the season, and likely lost Sterling Shepard for multiple weeks. Eli Manning needs a target to throw the ball, and the Giants were reportedly fairly high on Treadwell going into the 2016 NFL Draft. Treadwell would likely have a chance to step in as a go-to target for Eli right away. When Shepard returns, there is still a good chance that Treadwell could settle in as an every-down player in the Giants’ crippled offense.
The Vikings could look to strike a deal with the currently winless Giants to move Treadwell. If the Giants continue this shocking downward trend, The Vikings could end up with some high value picks in return. While getting a first-round pick in return for Treadwell would be great, it is very unlikely. The Vikings could look to get a return in the form of a third-round pick with a fifth-round pick. Less likely, the Vikings could potentially pull a trade for a second-round pick and possibly picks for the 2019 NFL Draft for a player of his potential.
Holding onto Treadwell wouldn’t be a bad idea for Minnesota. Still, there is an opportunity that the Vikings could look to jump at if the right deal can be made. After all, the Vikings love to stockpile draft picks. This could start that process early.
