Murphy: Mastery of the trade deadline shined in Vikings' win over Saints
Brian Murphy writes that two trade deadline deals over the last two years brought in players that led the Vikings to victory on Sunday
By Brian Murphy
Whatever Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has or has not acquired for the Vikings in April is mere conversation considering what he has leveraged in November.
It’s one thing to spend months dissecting data, debating options and war-gaming draft tactics when the NFL’s roster overlords converge for the three-day cattle call every spring.
Fleecing your fellow general managers on the fly in consecutive regular seasons is quite another. Holster those barbs about Lewis Cine and however unfulfilling you might think Adofo-Mensah’s 2022 draft collection is until you measure all his moves in their evolving context.
You have the second-year GM to thank for having the moxie to trade for tight end T.J. Hockenson and quarterback Josh Dobbs at the last two midseason deadlines for a total of three draft picks.
Dobbs has the Vikings on a rocket ship to the playoffs after engineering another improbable victory Sunday, using Hockenson as his wingman in a 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Dobbs is making Minnesota’s flatlined season disappear faster than a Snapchat, but he needed Hockenson to help yank away the curtain against a fierce defense and saturated injury list that left the Vikings with slim pickings for pass catchers.
Hockenson outgained the entire New Orleans offense in the first half with 128 yards on 10 receptions, including a 28-yard touchdown reception that turned out to be the game-winner.
“I thought T.J. Hockenson was as good as I’ve ever seen him when we absolutely needed him the most,” said coach Kevin O’Connell. “Can’t say enough about T.J.”
Say this, he knows how to endure pain and still produce.
Despite an oblique strain and sore ribs you could almost hear cracking with every wicked hit Hockenson absorbed sideline to sideline, he was there to deliver clutch catch after clutch catch and spoon-feed confidence to Dobbs.
Turns out, the new dynamic duo already was brewing good vibes when they worked out together during multiple off-seasons in Tennessee.
“I’ve gotten to know Josh really well and just super happy to have him in purple,” Hockenson said.
Dobbs tossed his own bouquet to Hockenson.
“Man, that guy’s a fighter. Definitely happy to have him on our side,” Dobbs said.
With Dobbs still namechecking his new teammates and O’Connell playing Legos with his deconstructed playbook, the Vikings dug deep to win their fifth straight to crash the NFC playoff-pursuit ball.
The team that trafficked in golden horseshoes in 2022 has had to climb out of the wreckage of an 0-3/1-4 start and overcome injuries to superstars Justin Jefferson, and Kirk Cousins, plus the loss of reliable receiver K.J. Osborn to a concussion.
Stacking up a fifth victory required them to line up with a receiving corps that included ascending rookie Jordan Addison, emerging punt returner Brandon Powell, injury-returning Jalen Nailor, Trishton Jackson and N’Keal Harry.
An Uber driver on Chicago Avenue turned down a request to be activated.
Jefferson returned to practice last week but there was no indication he was prepared to return after missing four games with a strained hamstring. And there is no reason for the Vikings to rush him back no matter how valiant or valuable he can be.
Addison and Hockenson are formidable playmakers so Jefferson and the Vikings should collaborate on an aggressive treatment and return-to-office strategy that positions everyone to succeed on the field and in upcoming contract negotiations.
Meanwhile, Dobbs has added multi-dimensions to Minnesota’s scheme with his ability to escape pressure, create havoc with his speed and having a nose for the moment, exploiting a deft touch on passes that matter.
Dobbs connected with Hockenson for five straight completions on the final drive of the second quarter. On first-and-15, Hockenson split the safeties and Dobbs threaded a beauty over the linebacker to the tight end for a 28-yard touchdown and 24-3 lead.
The chemistry was potent between the two in the first half, Hockenson acknowledged.
“Yeah, I’m going to be honest with you, I kind of blacked out,” he said. “You’re just focused on every play and the ball keeps coming to you, and I was reading the defenses really well and just feeling it a little bit. So that was a blast.”
There was no shortage of eyebrows raised at the end of training camp when the Vikings signed Hockenson to a four-year, $68.5 million extension without finding a way to ink Cousins or Jefferson long term.
Three months later, Hockenson is an upper-echelon playmaker while Jefferson remains sidelined and Cousins the lame duck may have played his final snap in purple.
So much for championship journeys starting with spring conditioning drills. Success or failure might just come down to what an aggressive GM does as we roll back the clocks.
“I am of the belief that we can continue to go out and write our own story,” O’Connell said after delivering yet another postgame victory speech.
“And we’re holding the pen.”
I cannot wait to see what happens when Josh has JJ as a weapon. Marcus Davenport may also be a helpful addition to the defense when he's ready. It should be fun.