Vikings trade deadline tracker: Latest on Josh Dobbs, Kirk Cousins, Danielle Hunter, and more
The Minnesota Vikings are still reeling over Kirk Cousins' injury, which ended his season and in truth, could have cost the team theirs despite their 24-10 win against the Green Bay Packers to move to 4-4.
The NFL deadline concluded on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Vikings went in to fill in the major hole at the QB. Many felt that the team could be moving big players, whether that'd be some key starters on or trying and getting some better talent to reel in the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
Let us look at some players that have been in the headlines.
Minnesota Vikings trade deadline
Minnesota is delicately poised after its win over the Packers, but the injury to Cousins likely ends any intention it had of trying to catch Detroit and possibly making a run at a playoff spot.
So, which way will the Vikings go, given that Cousins is out of contract at season's end and Justin Jefferson hasn't put pen to paper on a new deal yet?
Josh Dobbs, QB, Cardinals to Vikings
The Vikings officially made their first move of the trade deadline, trading for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs.
The Cardinals chose to name Clayton Tune as the starting quarterback for Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns, leaving Dobbs lower in the pecking order.
Dobb's trade to the Vikings marks the second time he has been traded in the past three months, with Arizona earlier moving to acquire him from the Browns. Incidentally, that trade went down during the Cardinals' joint practice with the Vikings.
Trade grade: C
Dobbs provides Minnesota with some insurance in case rookie Jaren Hall isn't quite NFL-ready. Dobbs' completion percentage stands at 62.8% for the season in eight games for Arizona.
UPDATE: CBS Sports' Josina Anderson reports that the Vikings and the Cardinals did a "pick swap --6th/7th" to bring Dobbs to Minnesota.
Kirk Cousins, QB
While there was thought prior to his Achilles injury that Cousins might be on the move, he squashed that rumor. Now that he is lost for the season, Minnesota is going forward with Joshua Dobbs, whom they traded for from the Cardinals.
Their season isn't shot as they are still at 4-4, but it will be interesting to see where the Vikings go from here.
Grade: B+
Danielle Hunter, DE
The 29-year-old has been in superb form for Minnesota through eight games, as he already has 10.0 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Hunter signed a one-year, $17 million deal with Minnesota this season, so any team wanting to trade for him will need to offer a brand new, shiny deal after this season.
While the reports mentioned Hunter to be in trade talks, Minnesota has decided to stay put. The franchise did not move the DE before the trade deadline.
Jordan Hicks, LB
The veteran linebacker has had a nice start to the season after an underwhelming campaign last year for Minnesota. The Cowboys have a need for a linebacker with Leighton Vander Esch injured, and with Hicks in the final year of his contract, he could be available for cheap.
Again, these moves are somewhat up and down as the Vikings' season isn't over, despite the Cousins injury.
Ezra Cleveland, G, Vikings to Jaguars
The Vikings have also turned into sellers for a quick minute, trading guard Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the move to Jacksonville, Cleveland will be reunited with OL coach Phil Rauscher. The pair worked together in Minnesota.
The compensation is a sixth-round draft pick.
Trade grade: B for Jacksonville, C for Minnesota
Considering Cleveland is arguably one of the standout young guards in the league, the Jaguars didn't spend all that much draft capital to beef up their O-line.
Jameis Winston to Minnesota?
With Cousins out for the year and Winston riding the bench in New Orleans, reports have stated that Justin Jefferson has already contacted Winston about coming to Minnesota.
The pair reportedly worked out together this offseason.
However it looks like the frannchise is all in on Joshua Dobbs for the foreseeable future in Kirk Cousins' absence.