This Vikings-Panthers trade would take Sam Darnold to the next level with the MIN reunion

The Minnesota Vikings finally showed signs of weakness over the weekend with a loss to the Detroit Lions in the most anticipated NFC North showdown of the season. This division is absolutely stacked, but Detroit-Minnesota feels like the first duel for first place and possibly even a spot in the Super Bowl.

It's only Week 7, so maybe we should cool our jets, but it's hard not to get excited watching a few juggernauts fight to the death. The Lions eked out a 31-29 victory in the final minutes, ending a back-and-forth battle between two of the NFL's most potent offenses.

Jared Goff made his MVP case clear, but the honor still goes to Sam Darnold, who exceeded expectations with a miraculous breakthrough campaign for the Vikings. Before the season, we all wondered when JJ McCarthy might take over. Now the question is whether Minnesota can even afford to keep Darnold around to hinder McCarthy's development.

It wasn't a perfect performance Sunday afternoon, but Darnold completed 22 of 27 passes and added another touchdown to his growing tally. Kevin O'Connell leads a strong team and the Vikings offense has plenty of playmaking firepower, which makes life easier for Darnold.

Still, Minnesota can certainly justify further investment in this offense. Gone are the days of wondering if this is a postseason team. We're now wondering if Minnesota has enough to win the Super Bowl. This means that all chips are on the table. If the right upgrade is available, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the front office should not hesitate.

Why not start with a reunion?

The Vikings should prevail against the Carolina Panthers, who committed the cardinal sin of making Marcus Mariota look competent on Sunday. At 34, Adam Thielen is well past his prime and he's recovering from a hamstring injury, which can be difficult. However, Minnesota knows as well as anyone how reliable Thielen can be, and the Panthers should make a deal before the trade deadline.

Thielen's game has never been characterized by athleticism. Catching passes in the NFL requires a basic level of agility and explosiveness, but Thielen's sharp route running and soft hands do much of the work. He understands angles and his quarterback's intuition on a fundamental level. Before arriving in Carolina, he was a favorite of Kirk Cousins ​​in Minnesota – a mid-range target freak who perfectly balanced the offense opposite Justin Jefferson.

There's no reason to believe the lineup wouldn't bode well for Darnold as well. The Vikings have other quality playmakers like Jordan Addison and the soon-to-return TJ Hockenson, but what harm does one more? Thielen is a perfect low-stakes safety valve for Darnold, giving the Vikings' gunslinger reliable hands closer to the battle line.

After posting the third 1,000-yard campaign of his career in 2023, Thielen still has plenty of potential. He reached that standard with Bryce Young throwing the football, people. Not many wide receivers can produce consistently at age 34, but Thielen has already proven he can break out.

In return, the Panthers replenish their draft stock and allow freshman Xavier Legette to continue to dominate targets.