Vikings 2025 Roster Trades Revealed: What It All Means

Vikings 2025 roster trades and cuts dissected in Two Old Bloggers episode, revealing surprises like Gabe Murphy’s release followed by his re-signing and Adam Thielen’s return. As the Minnesota Vikings finalize their squad ahead of the September 8 opener against the Bears, hosts Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano on Vikings 1st & SKOL—partnered with Fans First Sports Network—deliver sharp analysis on roster reactions, key trades, and NFC North shakeups, making this a must-listen for fans eyeing playoff contention after last year’s 14-3 run.

Why Vikings Fans Need This Roster Breakdown Now

With the 2025 NFL season opener just days away, diving into the Vikings’ roster moves offers crucial insights that go beyond headlines. For instance, understanding surprises like edge rusher cuts or veteran trades can reveal how GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is navigating depth issues at key positions. Additionally, topics like Harrison Smith’s mysterious absence and the Packers’ blockbuster deal for Micah Parsons heighten divisional drama. If you’re a dedicated Vikings SKOLdier, fantasy player, or casual NFL watcher, this episode’s breakdowns save time by highlighting risks and opportunities, resolving uncertainties about the team’s readiness in a stacked NFC North.

Roster Reactions: Predictable Yet Surprising Cuts

The Vikings’ journey to their 53-man roster after Tuesday’s cutdown day was mostly straightforward, as most starting spots were locked in before training camp. However, a few decisions sparked debate. For example, the biggest surprise was releasing edge rusher Gabe Murphy in favor of Chaz Chambliss. Murphy impressed in the preseason opener against Houston with a sack and a half plus multiple pressures, earning a high PFF grade. Yet, he was quieter against the Patriots and barely played versus the Titans.

“Murphy had a really, really good game against the initial cuts… He created a whole bunch of pressures,” Campbell said. In contrast, Chambliss racked up tackles and played extensively but showed little pass rush. Stefano noted, “My research on why Chaz probably made it over is his tackling. And he sets the edge. He’s good against the run.”

Factors like special teams—Chambliss saw heavy action there—likely played a role. With Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner as the top three edge rushers, the fourth spot sees limited snaps unless injuries occur. However, Campbell worried about depth: “Edge room that has Greenard, Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, and then Bo Richter and Chaz Chambliss—it’s not as strong as last year’s.”

Another mild shock was keeping Dwight McGlothern at cornerback. He played behind Mekhi Blackmon and Zemaiah Vaughn in preseason and struggled, yet made the roster while the others didn’t. “I thought Dwight McGlothern making the team was a bit of a surprise,” Campbell added. Similarly, linebacker Austin Keys’ inclusion raised eyebrows; Campbell expected him on the practice squad after a solid preseason, including a sack in the finale.

Overall, the roster held few shocks beyond these, but cornerback depth remains a red flag. The Vikings kept only four: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and McGlothern. “Isaiah Rogers… he’s never played starter reps,” Campbell pointed out. “Jeff Okudah… he’s got to prove to me and Vikings fans that he can actually be a competent NFL corner.” Stefano echoed, “We’re sort of acting like the rest of the NFL when it comes to JJ McCarthy. We haven’t seen it, so how could you say so?”

Cutdown Week Trades: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

Transitioning to trades, Adofo-Mensah stayed active, addressing gaps while flipping assets. First, the Adam Thielen reunion from Carolina. At 35, Thielen’s return filled a dire wide receiver need amid Jalen Nailor’s hand injury, Rondale Moore’s season-ending absence, and Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension.

“Bringing in Adam Thielen… they had to bring in somebody who had some kind of a track record,” Campbell said. Stats bolstered the move: Thielen caught 75% of targets in Carolina, with a strong contested catch rate. Quarterbacks targeting him posted ratings over 100, versus 70s-80s otherwise. “Do I think he’s lost the ability to get open and make tough catches? No, I don’t,” Campbell asserted.

Thielen reworked his contract, reducing his salary by $2 million (from about $7 million after a $1.5 million raise) and removing $4 million in incentives, per reports. This drops his base to around $4.25 million, saving the Vikings cap space at roughly $5-7 million total. “He revised his contract… It’s gonna cost the Vikings about $5 million for a veteran wide receiver three,” Stefano explained.

Expectations are realistic: a possession receiver for short-to-intermediate routes, not a deep threat. “He’s not going to be blazing down the sideline… He’ll move the chains,” Stefano said. Campbell compared it favorably to the 2010 Randy Moss flop: “This isn’t 2010… Expectations for Moss were over the top.”

However, the Sam Howell trade to Philly for Carson Wentz drew skepticism. The Vikings got value for Howell, whom they seemed ready to cut, but is Wentz an upgrade? His last start (backing Patrick Mahomes in 2024) was dismal: 10-for-17, under 98 yards, four sacks in a shutout loss to Denver. “Did they actually get a better backup than Howell?” Campbell questioned. “I don’t know if Wentz is really an upgrade.”

Stefano agreed: “Howell blew it… But we got more for him in the trade than we traded for him.” Wentz’s North Dakota State ties and Vikings fandom aside, performance matters. “What you care about is that Wentz can… not screw things up,” Campbell stressed.

Finally, trading Mekhi Blackmon to the Colts for a sixth-rounder stung. Once eyed as a starter, his ACL tear in camp derailed him. Preseason, he looked tentative and slow. “I saw a guy who was always behind… two or three steps slow,” Campbell observed. Was it permanent damage or mental? The Vikings couldn’t wait, thinning corner depth further.

These deals exposed offseason bets gone wrong: Howell, Blackmon, and wideout holes. “Here you have… scrambling to fix a big hole at wide receiver,” Campbell noted. Stefano praised Adofo-Mensah’s decisiveness: “At least he’s not believing in the sunk cost fallacy.”

This Week in Vikingsland: Health Woes and Rival Bombshells

Shifting to news, Harrison Smith’s absence since August 11 raised alarms. It’s a non-mental, personal health issue with weekly evaluations; full recovery expected, but he might miss the opener. “It sounds like… a decent chance that Smith might not be able to play,” Campbell said.

Smith’s intelligence and Flores scheme mastery are vital. “Harrison Smith is not quite the player he was… but the football knowledge he has,” Campbell emphasized. If out, Josh Metellus and Theo Jackson start, with Jay Ward stepping up. “We’re gonna be fine… but I would prefer if Harrison Smith was on the field,” he added.

Stefano speculated: “Does he have an infection? … It’s not mental health related.” Rumors like shingles surfaced, but details remain vague. “Something’s keeping him out… As long as it’s not physically affecting him, this is gonna be fine,” Stefano said.

Worse was the Packers trading for Micah Parsons from Dallas: two first-rounders and Kenny Clark. “I cannot tell you how disgusted I am that Green Bay pulled this off,” Campbell vented. Parsons, an elite pass rusher, bolsters a young, talented Packers defense under Jeff Hafley. “The one thing that they did lack was an elite pass rush. Now they have that,” he noted.

In a shocking NFL blockbuster, the Dallas Cowboys traded star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on August 28, 2025. Dallas received DT Kenny Clark and two first-round picks (2026, 2027). Parsons signed a record 4-year, $188M deal with $136M guaranteed, becoming the highest-paid non-QB. The 26-year-old, with 52.5 career sacks, joins GB’s defense as a Reggie White-like force.

From a Vikings view, it sucks: facing Parsons twice yearly. “This trade just sucks, sucks, sucks,” Campbell repeated. Yet, it depends on Jordan Love: “The Packers making the Super Bowl… is gonna be largely dependent on this guy Jordan Love.”

Stefano agreed: “It sucks… But I still worry about Detroit more than Green Bay.” The move swaps NFC North standings in his eyes—Packers to third, Bears fourth—but doesn’t dethrone the Vikings or Lions.

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Vikings’ Roster Puzzle: Hope Amid Challenges

These topics matter because they clarify the Vikings’ path forward after a strong 2024. Trades like Thielen’s provide stability, while cuts and health issues test depth. Resolving concerns: Adofo-Mensah’s agility in fixing holes keeps the team competitive, with a bolstered offensive line and run game countering threats like Parsons. As Campbell concluded, “No guarantees in the NFL… But this move makes sense.” The Vikings’ core, including J.J. McCarthy’s growth, offers optimism for a deep playoff run despite NFC North intensity.

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Question:

Which Vikings trade—Thielen, Howell/Wentz, or Blackmon—do you think impacts the 2025 season most, and why?