Proposed Vikings blockbuster sends star Panthers corner to Minnesota at deadline

An NFL writer is doubling down on a potential blockbuster trade involving the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers.

Over the 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 change Benjamin’s opinion.

He went back to the source on Halloween and linked the Vikings to a player who was creating some buzz around the NFL as the Nov. 5 trade deadline approached.

“Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done an admirable job thus far addressing holes while retaining premium draft capital,” Benjamin wrote, “ensuring that the Vikings’ surprisingly competitive team remains in the hunt for NFC North continues. Horn would represent a more powerful swing that would likely require a few higher picks, but the Carolina Panthers haven’t locked up their former first-rounder yet, and his long-term upside would be welcome in an aging, struggling Viking 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 some of Robinson’s base salary following Tuesday’s trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Minnesota only has $805,000 left, per overthecap.com, and while that number can be manipulated in a number of ways, the Vikings would have to deal with it at the deadline after this hypothetical deal for Horn.

What would work in Minnesota’s favor, however, is Horn’s fully guaranteed rookie deal. He was due $3.5 million in cash this season, with most of that total paid out in an offseason roster bonus. If Horn were acquired via trade, he would be owed a prorated base salary of $620,000 through the remainder of 2024 before being increased to $12.4 million in cash through 2025 via the fifth-year option.

Minnesota has spent up to the max in 2024, but they are expected to have a ton of cap 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 biggest deterrent to getting this hypothetical deal done, as the Vikings are left with just a first-rounder, two fifth-rounders and a likely third-round compensatory pick in 2025. They currently have nine selections on the roster. 2026, but three of those are now conditional seventh-rounders.

Even with Horn’s tantalizing talent, the Vikings are unlikely to make a move that depletes their 2026 draft board as they are already short on 2025 draft picks.

Horn’s potential is undeniable, but potential won’t get you anywhere in the NFL. Injuries have prevented him from staying on the field, yet he is still expected to get a mega contract extension from Carolina in 2025.

This is a nice proposition for a Vikings team that could certainly use some young talent at cornerback, but there are likely too many hurdles to get a deal done before Tuesday’s deadline.

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