Can Vikings Afford Dexter Lawrence?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 28: Dexter Lawrence II #97 of the New York Giants looks on prior to a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images With just 17 days until the 2026 NFL Draft, Minnesota Vikings fans are buzzing: should the team trade for Giants All-Pro DT Dexter Lawrence? In the latest episode of The Real Forno Show , Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano deliver unfiltered analysis on the Lawrence trade rumors, why Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq could be a perfect first-round fit, and a full 7-round Vikings mock draft.

Tyler Forness doesn’t sugarcoat it on this Vikings 1st & SKOL production. “If Dexter Lawrence ended up a member of the Minnesota Vikings, he would be a dominant force on the interior of that defensive line,” he admits, but quickly adds the cold reality: “I just think it would be bad business to trade for Dexter Lawrence. ” The episode breaks down the massive hurdles — only $4.

8 million in cap space forces the Vikings to clear over $15 million first, likely by trading Jonathan Greenard and extending Brian O’Neill, moves that would gut roster depth. Forness explains the full cost: “You’re gonna part with at least a second and a fifth… more likely a first plus,” plus a market-level extension near $27 million per year. He argues this win-now splash hurts long-term building: “Building the depth of a roster is nearly impossible to do when you don’t have those picks at all.

” Key points from the show include: Lawrence trade feasibility : “The Vikings literally cannot make that trade right now” without cap gymnastics that create new holes elsewhere. Why it’s bad business today : Forness notes the Vikings are “not in a position to make that kind of move” after prioritizing depth in recent offseasons, unlike 2024 when it might have been the final Super Bowl piece. Kenyon Sadiq as first-round option : Tyler calls the explosive tight end (4.