NFL Rumors: Should The Minnesota Vikings Trade For Dwayne Bowe?

John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

The Minnesota Vikings have seemingly lacked a consistently dynamic deep threat since trading Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders prior to the 2005 season, with a string of free agent signings and draft picks that have failed to pan out due to injuries and just general underachievement. So any available wide receiver with any sort of name recognition or production of note automatically stands to peak the interest of fans and media.

A report on Wednesday suggests Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe badly wants out of Kansas City, though at this early stage it’s unknown if the Chiefs are willing to entertain any trade offers or if Bowe has made any sort of formal trade request. If Bowe is made available, a lot of teams may have significant interest in him.

Bowe held out of all team-related off-season work and a large chunk of training camp last summer in search of a long-term deal from the Chiefs, but ultimately signed a one-year, $9.5 million franchise tender and did not miss any regular season games. Kansas City can use the franchise tag on him again next off-season, and may do so if there is a potential trade to be had at that point, or he could be allowed to become an unrestricted free agent next spring.

Bowe was a first-round pick (23rd overall) in 2007 by the Chiefs out of LSU, and has career totals of 390 catches, 5,350 receiving yards and 39 touchdowns over his five-plus seasons. He has three 1,000 yard seasons to his credit, including each of the past two seasons, and he earned his first (and to this point only) career Pro Bowl selection in 2010 when he had 72 receptions for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Bowe has been a bit of an underachiever despite solid overall production, but lackluster quarterback play in Kansas City has played a role in his not quite becoming one of the NFL‘s elite wide receivers. It’s fair to wonder what Bowe could do with a a better, more consistent signal caller throwing him the ball, as Matt Cassel is clearly the best quarterback the Chiefs have had during his career.

The Vikings may not be willing to part with draft picks to acquire Bowe, as that would not fit with general manager Rick Spielman’s overall plan to rebuild the roster with younger players. But Bowe is just 28 years old himself, and if the team continues to win games ahead of the October 30 trade deadline the franchise’s outlook for this season may change and lead to a bold move in order to try to remain in the NFC playoff picture.

Any team that were to make a trade for Bowe, assuming he is made available over the next couple weeks, would definitely want some level of assurance he will be willing to sign a long-term deal after the season. That may narrow the pool of potential trade partners for the Chiefs right off the bat, and perhaps take the Vikings out of the running if other teams have more to offer in a deal. If he is willing to sign a long-term deal, and he had clearly wanted one from the Chiefs that he looks likely to never get, I like Bowe as a potential fit for the Vikings.