Minnesota Vikings: Big-name targets ahead of 2018 NFL trade deadline
Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
With Everson Griffen away from the team, the Vikings are in need of more depth at defensive end. Obviously Danielle Hunter can still get it done on one side, and Stephen Weatherly has shown well standing in for Griffen, but the more quality edge rushers the better.
This is a similar situation to Flowers, although far more promising. Although Dante Fowler Jr. has had a bumpy road since entering the NFL in 2015, he’s still flashed upside as a quarterback hunter. After missing his rookie season due to an ACL tear, Fowler has racked up a total of 13 sacks.
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The problem now is that the Jacksonville Jaguars don’t have many snaps to feed the former first-round pick. With Yannick Ngakoue, Calais Campbell, Taven Bryan and Dawuane Smoot all vying for playing time, the Jaguars only have so much motivation to get Fowler involved.
His contract is up at the end of the year, and there’s little reason for the Jaguars to re-sign him. So instead of letting him walk via free agency, they can try to recoup some of their investment via trade. It’s unclear how much they can get for him, but their lack of leverage could allow the Vikings to pry him away for a reasonable price — say a sixth-round pick?
Griffen’s future is uncertain right now. Why not add a capable pass rusher behind Hunter and Weatherly who can keep the heat up when the starters need a rest?