After selecting Jakobe Thomas in this year’s draft, the latest Theo Jackson trade rumors may pick up before the 2026 regular season. According to Bleacher Report, Jackson is listed as the team’s top trade candidate, who is coming off a season where he hauled in 22 solo tackles and two sacks. He hasn’t exactly been a reliable safety in the Vikings’ defensive room, which is why Brian Flores probably overhauled the team’s secondary unit. They also plan to give Jay Ward more starting snaps this upcoming season, so there isn’t really any room for Jackson to make a comeback, and he’d probably have to work for his starting job this summer.
Originally selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the former Tennessee product joined the Vikings after being waived by the Titans in his first year in the league. He isn’t a big name in the NFL, but he’s still someone capable of being a starter for a team that needs a safety. After the Vikings released Harrison Smith and didn’t bother bringing back Stephon Gilmore, it appears the team is heading into a new regime under Flores.
Theo Jackson Trade Rumors: 3 Best Fits For $12M Star
Jackson could be a worthy name in the trade market even though his career with the Vikings hasn’t been quite fruitful. The safety likely needs a reset, and luckily, there are plenty of teams out there waiting for him. Will the team attempt to do it during the summer? It’s most likely the case, but since the team has enough depth to hang him on the trade block, here are three teams likely to pursue him right before the season commences.
Possible Destinations
Kansas City Chiefs
This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs lost multiple key defenders in their secondary, including Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook. You can argue that the team is starting over, but they’re still a Super Bowl-caliber defense despite their losses. The Chiefs brought in CB Mansoor Delane via the NFL Draft and signed Kaiir Elam for depth while bringing back L’Jarius Sneed for familiarity.
It appears the Chiefs are playing “chess,” not checkers, when letting defenders walk in free agency and bringing them back if their new team doesn’t work out. With Jackson, there’s definitely a role for him to help with the new free agent acquisition, Alohi Gilman. Gilman is one of the most notable signings for the Chiefs, and even if the Vikings safety serves as the backup, he could thrive in the Steve Spagnuolo system.
Chicago Bears
Meanwhile, the Bears experienced the same thing. They lost five defensive backs, including Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard. While they found some replacements in Coby Bryant and first-round pick Dillon Thieneman, there’s always room for depth. Thieneman is still developing, which should give Jackson some starting reps for the first couple of weeks.
Chicago also drafted CB Malik Muhammad and re-signed Jaylon Jones, but hasn’t made any free agent acquisitions that can revive this depleting secondary. The Vikings safety won’t change this defensive secondary overnight, but it’d give another depth boost behind Bryant.
Baltimore Ravens
After hiring Jesse Minter as their new head, the Baltimore Ravens have solidified their starting safety unit and don’t necessarily need the best name in the trade market. Between Malaki Starks, Kyle Hamilton and now signing Jaylinn Hawkins, things are shaping up pretty nicely for the Ravens’ safety room. However, depth is always something the team can address.
Jackson won’t be a starter in Baltimore, but maybe he can turn his career around in a system led by Minter, who successfully developed Gilman during his last tenure in Los Angeles.
