An NFL writer is doubling down on a potential blockbuster trade involving the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers.
Last weekend, Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com urged the Vikings to acquire star Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn for a pair of 2026 draft picks — a second and a conditional fourth.
Minnesota’s recent trade for left tackle Cam Robinson did little to sway Benjamin’s opinion.
He went back to the well on Halloween, linking the Vikings to a player who has generated some buzz around the NFL with the Nov. 5 trade deadline looming.
“Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done an admirable job addressing holes while retaining premium draft capital so far,” Benjamin wrote, “ensuring the Vikings' surprisingly competitive team stays in the NFC North hunt. Horn would represent a bolder swing, likely requiring a higher pick or two, but the Carolina Panthers haven't yet locked up their former first-rounder, and his long-term upside would be welcome in an aging, struggling Vikings cornerback room.”
Horn’s age, upside and contract make him an attractive option for the Vikings, but do they have the cap space and draft capital to realistically get a deal done at this year’s trade deadline?
Vikings current salary cap situation
The Vikings currently rank 32nd in the NFL in 2024 cap space, after absorbing a portion of Robinson’s base salary following Tuesday’s trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Minnesota has just $805K remaining, per overthecap.com, and while that number can be manipulated in a number of ways, the Vikings would be up against it after this hypothetical deal for Horn at the deadline.
What would work in Minnesota’s favor, however, is Horn’s fully-guaranteed rookie deal. He was due $3.5 million in real cash this season, and a majority of that total was paid out in an offseason roster bonus. If acquired via trade, Horn would be owed a prorated base salary of $620K for the remainder of 2024, before kicking up to $12.4 million in cash for 2025 via the fifth-year option.
Minnesota has spent to the cap in 2024, but they're projected to have a ton of space in 2025 ($75 million, sixth most in the NFL) and should be able to justify a trade for Horn on the contract side.
Vikings future draft picks
A lack of draft assets could be the major deterrent to this hypothetical deal getting done, as the Vikings are down to just a first-rounder, two fifth-rounders and a likely third-round compensatory pick in 2025. They currently have nine selections in 2026, but three of those are now conditional seventh-rounders.
Even with Horn’s tantalizing talent, it’s unlikely the Vikings make a move that depletes their 2026 draft board, given they’re already short on draft picks for 2025.
Horn's potential is undeniable, but potential gets you nowhere in the NFL. He hasn't been able to stay on the field due to injuries, and even so, he's projected to get a mega contract extension from Carolina in 2025.
This is a fun proposal for a Vikings team that could definitely use some young talent at corner, but there are likely too many hurdles for a deal to get done by Tuesday's deadline.
MORE TRADE PREDICTIONS: Vikings, Patriots trade proposal would send 2-time Super Bowl champ to Minnesota to aid playoff push
