NFL trade deadline passes without the Vikings making another move

The Vikings have a need at offensive tackle, but also have less than $1 million in salary cap space making it difficult to make much of a splash.

November 1, 2016 at 8:55PM
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer in the first quarter.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer in the first quarter. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The NFL's trade deadline has passed without the Vikings making a deal.

They have a need at offensive tackle, with Jake Long and T.J. Clemmings being victimized since replacing the injured Matt Kalil and Andre Smith. The team allowed five sacks in last night's loss to the Bears.

They also have less than $1 million in salary cap space after making their blockbuster trade two months ago, acquiring quarterback Sam Bradford.

So even if the Vikings did have interest in giving away another high draft pick for someone like Joe Thomas or Joe Staley, it would have been difficult to create salary cap space without creating cap issues down the road.

The Vikings instead will go forward with what they have and hope that offensive line coach Tony Sparano can get that group to block better. Making it through a game without losing a lineman would probably help.

As is typically the case, it was a quiet deadline day across the league. The only major move came yesterday, when the Patriots traded star linebacker Jamie Collins to the Browns for a mid-round pick in the 2018 draft.

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about the writer

Matt Vensel

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