Entering the 2025 season, the NFC North is expected to be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. The division already has three playoff teams, and the Chicago Bears are expected to be better, though that’s been the case for years. Regardless, the Minnesota Vikings will have a lot of competition as they try to claim their first NFC North championship since 2022.
The team that has finished first in the division the last two seasons is the Detroit Lions. Detroit is still expected to be a contender, but the franchise has received some tough hits this offseason. The Lions lost Ben Johnson to Chicago, and recently, Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement. Now, Detroit is being encouraged to trade away a productive depth defender.
In a recent Bleacher Report article that named one player each team should consider trading before the season, Gary Davenport named Amik Robertson as the candidate in Detroit. Davenport argued that since Robertson is entering a contract year and also isn’t a starter, the Lions should look to move him.
"The 26-year-old Robinson broke his arm in the playoffs last year, but that injury shouldn’t affect his status for 2025. He was a capable player in coverage, posting a passer rating against of under 100 for the third year in a row.
Versatile young cornerbacks are coveted commodities, and with Robertson heading into a contract year and unlikely to be part of Detroit’s long-term plans, now could be the time to get some compensation for the sixth-year pro."
If Detroit agrees with that assessment, the Vikings should absolutely call the Lions and trade for Robertson.
Robertson, who started his career with the Las Vegas Raiders as a fourth-round pick, received a lot of praise for limiting Justin Jefferson to just three receptions for 54 yards in Week 18 last season (a de facto NFC North Championship game).
Robertson and Jefferson are rivals dating back to high school in Louisiana, but the veteran corner has done a good job of guarding a number of receivers, and that’s why it would make sense for the two to now be teammates.
Between both corner spots and the nickel position, the Vikings could use more depth in their secondary, and Robertson would be an ideal player to add to Brian Flores’ defense.
It’s unclear if the Lions even want to trade the corner, and if they’d be willing to send him to Minnesota in the same division. But it’s a move the Vikings should definitely be willing to explore.
