Vikings linked to blockbuster trade for former Round 1 WR to help J.J. McCarthy

Justin Jefferson has a case as the true No. 1 overall receiver in the entire league, but Jordan Addison’s emergence as a rookie could make trading Jefferson a legitimate possibility.

However, if the Vikings in fact more forward with both Jefferson and Addison, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah might target a former first-round pick to round out Minnesota’s receiving trio around McCarthy.

Minnesota Vikings linked to Treylon Burks trade

Treylon Burks has never quite lived up to his billing as a first-round pick during his time with the Tennessee Titans, but could flourish in a receiving corps headlined by Jefferson and Addison at the top of the depth chart.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay put together a list of trades to help hasten the development of the quarterbacks chosen in the first round of this year’s class, including this deal that lands Burks in McCarthy’s supporting cast:

Vikings receive: WR Treylon Burks

Titans receive: 2025 seventh-round pick

“Burks could be available,” Kay writes for Bleacher Report. “Especially after the Tennessee Titans—the club that selected Boyd on Day 1 of the 2022 draft—brought in Tyler Boyd to fill their slot receiver role. With a logjam of receiving talent now in the Music City, Burks looks to be the odd man out following a slow start to his NFL career.

“Although Burks hasn’t produced much in his two seasons (he’s only reeled in 49 receptions for 665 yards and one score across 22 games) he has dealt with injuries, poor quarterback play and a run-heavy system that have all hindered his development. He still has a high ceiling due to his size, strength, athleticism and versatility—traits that could allow him to shine while manning the slot in the Twin Cities.”

Through his first two seasons, Burks has caught only 49 passes for 665 yards with just one touchdown receptions. Given that the Titans signed Tyler Boyd, a trade involving Burks could be a logical next shoe to drop. Likewise, Burks’ asking price probably isn’t much more than a seventh-round pick because Tennessee would have minimal leverage in negotiations with teams around the league who see that his role could be limited with the Titans.

“Treylon’s obviously a big slot target,” an AFC Scouting Director recently told Heavy.com. “You’d have to have a simple route tree for him, though. He’s big, physical, still on a rookie deal and that makes him more than worth taking a flier on.”