Schefter: Vikings interested in trading for Ravens kicker

While Minnesota Vikings’ kicker Dan Bailey still retains a spot as one of the five most accurate kickers in NFL history, we all know that he had his struggles since signing with the Vikings last season. With the preseason now in full swing, the trade rumors are flying around, and there’s speculation that the purple could be interested in bring in his replacement.

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that four teams, and “at least” two NFC North clubs, have placed calls to the Baltimore Ravens about acquiring the services of kicker Kaare Vedvik. Since it seems unlikely that the Green Bay Packers would move on from Mason Crosby, and even more unlikely that the Detroit Lions would part ways with Matt Prater, it’s not a huge leap of logic to assume that the two NFC North teams are the ones with the most well-documented kicking issues: the Vikings and the Chicago Bears.

Vedvik, a native of Norway that played his college ball at Marshall, was originally signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He was the victim of an assault in Baltimore last September, and the Ravens placed him on the Non-Football Injury List, ending his season. He’s back for the team this year, however, and went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts in the Ravens’ preseason opener on Thursday, including a 55-yard blast.

If the Vikings are truly dissatisfied with Bailey’s performance, a trade for Vedvik is something that could, potentially, make a lot of sense. The Vikings are projected to receive a number of compensatory picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, so it might not hurt quite as much to deal a lower-round pick for him. Of course, if they’re competing with a division rival, the Ravens would obviously use that against them to extract a higher price.

Just a rumor to toss out there on this Sunday morning for everyone’s discussion pleasure.