Colts Emerge as Commerce Idea for Vikings Playmaker

An Indianapolis Colts helmet rests on an tools case throughout a street matchup towards the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The scene was captured on Dec. 1, 2024, as Indianapolis continued its late-season playoff pursuit whereas making ready for an AFC contest in Foxborough throughout the closing stretch of the common season. Necessary Credit score: Eric Canha-Imagn Pictures.

Let’s get this out of the way in which: the Minnesota Vikings most likely gained’t commerce Jordan Addison. But when they did, Fansided believes the Indianapolis Colts come calling.

The thought is speculative, however the IND roster logic is simple to comply with.

Minnesota lately exercised Addison’s fifth-year contractual choice, extending his contract with the franchise by the top of 2027.

Indianapolis Might Evidently Use One other Confirmed WR Weapon

Would the Vikings actually commerce Addison this summer time?

Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Jordan Addison walks towards the sideline after a street recreation towards the Chicago Bears at Soldier Subject on Nov. 24, 2024, in Chicago. The Vikings struggled to search out offensive rhythm throughout the divisional matchup as Addison and Minnesota looked for late momentum towards a bodily Bears protection in a tightly contested NFC North battle. Necessary Credit score: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Pictures.

Fansided: Colts Ought to Name about Addison

Jake Beckman sized up one participant per workforce for commerce concentrating on, and for the Colts, Addison evidently made essentially the most sense.

He defined, “The Colts are in a very tough spot right now. IF (and that’s a big IF) Daniel Jones is healthy enough to play at the beginning of the season, he’s going to need his receivers to get open early and often. The problem is that right now, his wide receivers are Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.”

“That’s not remotely close to the caliber of a receiver room that they’re going to need… and there isn’t really anyone out there who is going to give that wide receiver room a shot of adrenaline. However, the Vikings did just sign Jauan Jennings.”

Any Addison commerce fodder this offseason has been fan- or media-driven. There’s no credible intel to counsel a deal is in play.

Beckman added, “If they wanted to move on from Addison, who has had a litany of legal issues, they absolutely could. It’s unprecedented for a team to trade a player right after they exercise his fifth-year option, but this is a pretty unique situation that both teams are in.”

The Commerce Worth?

With an additional caveat that the Vikings most likely gained’t commerce Addison per the Beckman concept, the membership might probably ask for a 2nd-Rounder in that case. Addison’s off-the-field turmoil has prevented him from rising to superstardom, and he additionally hasn’t topped 1,000 yards in a season by three years.

With out Addison, Minnesota would lean into Jennings, who signed a few weeks in the past because the 2026 WR3. Such a commerce would additionally go away Minnesota skinny on the extensive receiver spot, which is why it signed Jennings within the first place — so as to add extra firepower for Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy along with hedging the wager towards an Addison or Justin Jefferson damage.

If the Vikings wished to commerce Addison, they probably would’ve completed it earlier than or throughout April’s draft. As of Might, he’s most likely a Viking for the 2026 marketing campaign and past.

In truth, the person can begin asking Minnesota’s brass a few contract extension as early as now.

The Case for Buying and selling Addison

Addison’s commerce worth is undeniably rooted in his expertise. He’s younger, productive, and has solely accomplished three seasons within the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Jordan Addison (3) warms up earlier than a matchup towards the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Financial institution Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. Addison went by pregame drills and stretching workouts because the Vikings ready for one more vital late-season NFC contest in entrance of the house crowd throughout the playoff push. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures.

The complication, nonetheless, lies along with his off-field report. In 2023, Addison was cited close to Minneapolis for driving 140 mph in a 55 mph zone. He attributed the extreme pace to a canine emergency, and the incident was shortly resolved with minimal league intervention.

A yr later, a extra critical incident popped up. Addison was discovered handed out and drunk in his automobile on a Los Angeles freeway, an occasion that resulted in a three-game suspension.

Additional malarkey arose throughout the 2025 season. Addison missed a workforce walkthrough in London, prompting head coach Kevin O’Connell to bench him for 1 / 4 within the subsequent contest. Three months later, he was arrested for trespassing and faraway from a Florida on line casino. Whereas that case was later dismissed, it nonetheless contributed to a rising sample of mischief.

The Colts’ WR Room

Beckam is onto one thing — the Colts arguably want yet one more weapon for Jones. Right here’s the total WR group earlier than summer time minicamp:

Alec Pierce

Josh Downs

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Deion Burks

Ashton Dulin

Anthony Gould

Laquon Treadwell

Eli Pancol

Coleman Owen

Sahmir Hagins

E.J. Horton

Raylen Sharpe

Burks is a rookie with some upside, however other than him, it’s a Pierce-Downs-heavy ticket.

In any other case, the Colts might discover a free-agent wideout, comparable to Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel, or DeAndre Hopkins. Brandon Aiyuk, too, could possibly be gettable through commerce from the San Francisco 49ers.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen watches from the sideline throughout the second half towards the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Aug. 23, 2025, in Cincinnati. Steichen evaluated his roster and recreation administration choices as Indianapolis continued preseason preparations forward of the upcoming common season whereas going through the Bengals on the street. Necessary Credit score: Katie Stratman-Imagn Pictures.

MSN’s Mahima Roy famous on Diggs as a Colts choice final week, “The Colts might make a move for the former New England Patriots star player Stefon Diggs. They have not officially weighed in on the trade talks concerning Stefon Diggs. Ever since the New England Patriots released Stefon Diggs in February 2025, the 32 year old wide receiver has been linked to many rival teams.”

“There have also been strong rumors of the Patriots re-signing Stefon Diggs for the upcoming season but nothing has been confirmed yet. While the 2024 season was a tough one for Stefon Diggs as he sustained a brutal ACL tear, the popular wide receiver bounced back on the field in the next season after he signed a $63 million deal with the New England Patriots.”

Diggs is arguably the highest free-agent WR in the marketplace after being discovered not responsible of assault expenses in Massachusetts earlier this month.

Sportsbooks count on the Colts to win eight or 9 video games in 2026. It’s the identical forecast for Minnesota.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker