Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been the subject of trade talks for months, but fellow first-round pick Christian Darrisaw is also worth monitoring. While the left tackle isn’t as big of a name as Jefferson, Darrisaw is one of the better players at this position and will soon earn a sizable payday. Serving as Minnesota’s primary starter, the Virginia Tech product finished the 2023 season with an 82.4 PFF grade, the eighth-best mark out of 81 eligible players.
Now entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, Darrisaw is officially eligible for an extension. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the Vikings have begun extension talks with Christian Darrisaw, but could they trade him if the two sides cannot agree to a deal?
Christian Darrisaw Extension Eligible, Will Trade Ensue?
Minnesota already used the fifth-year option on Darrisaw, which means he’s under team control for two more seasons. Had the team retained Kirk Cousins, the Vikings would probably have no choice but to trade Christian Darrisaw. Justin Jefferson will break the bank, and there is only so much money to go around. However, with rookie J.J. McCarthy and his cost-controlled contract, Minnesota should be able to afford both of their first-round picks.
With that disclaimer out of the way, the Vikings might still trade Christian Darrisaw. Elite left tackles are getting upwards of $20 million per year, and Darrisaw should join those ranks with his next deal. Seeing as Justin Jefferson will likely eclipse A.J. Brown’s $32 million per year deal, the Vikings will need to ask themselves if they can justify spending roughly $55 million per year on two non-quarterbacks. If they can’t, the following five teams should be willing to make a move for the tackle.
Potential Destinations
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have one of the worst tackle situations in football, and that’s bad news when Derek Carr is your quarterback. Right tackle Ryan Ramzcyk is returning from a serious knee injury and might never be the same, while first-round pick Taliese Fuaga is completely untested. Carr is one of the worst quarterbacks in the league against pressure, and Dennis Allen must make the playoffs to keep his job. Given the relatively weak state of the NFC South, a Christian Darrisaw trade could be enough for this team to win the division.
Las Vegas Raiders
After a rough start to his career, Kolton Miller has become one of the game’s better left tackles. Former seventh-round pick Thayer Munford had a solid season on the right side, but he might not be a long-term answer. Seeing as Vegas has arguably the worst quarterback situation in Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, this team must provide their quarterback with as much support as humanly possible. A Christian Darrisaw trade won’t be enough to take down the Chiefs for the division crown, but it will help this team build on the promising start to the Antonio Pierce Era.
New England Patriots
The Patriots are betting the farm that third-round pick Caedan Wallace will hit the ground running. While the Penn State product has potential, New England doesn’t have a Plan B for if he’s not ready to start on Day 1. Christian Darrisaw can fortify the offensive line for rookie Drake Maye, which should be priority number 1 for developing a rookie.
Kansas City Chiefs
Much like the Patriots, the Chiefs are betting on rookie Kingsley Suamataia immediately securing one of the most important non-quarterback positions in football. While some teams are in a position to let their rookies learn on the job, Kansas City is in win-now mode and can’t bet the season on a rookie hitting the ground running. Kansas City could trade for Christian Darrisaw, start him in 2024, and then move Suamataia to the right side in 2025 once they’re financially able to cut Jawaan Taylor.
Carolina Panthers
Based on their offseason activity, the Panthers seem to believe that former first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu can bounce back from his subpar 2023. This means the team probably won’t trade for Christian Darrisaw in the coming weeks, but they could do it at this point next year. Now that he has a proper supporting cast, Bryce Young has a chance to show what he can do at the NFL level. If he proves to be a franchise quarterback, Carolina could give up an early pick to solidify the offensive line and pursue a playoff birth in 2025.
Main Photo: Jeffrey Becker – USA Today Sports
