The NFL trade deadline doesn't officially hit until 4 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10, but contenders across the NFC are already wheeling and dealing.

The pressure is officially on for the Vikings and general manager Nolan Teasley to keep pace as teams they’re likely to battle in the playoffs start to load up. While there is still a week and a half to act, Teasley cannot afford to wait while other teams keep stacking talent.

Vikings need help as NFC arms race has begun

The Vikings’ 16-10 victory against the Colts last Sunday seemingly sent up a flare to the rest of the league that Indy was open for business. Turns out, they were. The Colts traded star left guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks on Tuesday. The move filled a massive hole for Seattle as they look to keep up with San Francisco in the NFC West. The 49ers were not far behind, acquiring defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Colts that afternoon.

Then, an NFC North rival added even more pressure for Teasley and the Vikings to act as the Bears shipped off a package of two firsts and a fourth for Titans DT Jeffery Simmons on Thursday. 

Needless to say, the Vikings will need to be aggressive if they want to keep up. With a sinking offense and a brutal schedule approaching, the rookie GM needs to make a splash. Thankfully, reports indicate he’s attempting to do just that. 

Nolan Teasley should be a busy man ahead of trade deadline

While it was always fair to speculate that Teasley and the 6-0 Vikings would be active at the deadline, two new reports give us insight into just how wild things may get. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentioned three specific positions of interest for the Vikings: "interior offensive line, defensive line, and running back."

Meanwhile, NFL insider James Palmer referred to Teasley as a “madman on the phones” who is “looking at everything” during Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football postgame coverage. Palmer specifically mentioned running back and tight end as positions the Vikings are looking into (h/t: James Palmer)

Seems like the Vikings may just be calling about every player in the league at this point. Well, except kickers, of course.

So what does it mean?

Is Teasley just doing his due diligence? Is he value bin shopping?

The reports around his urgency and the team's 7-0 start tell me he’s aiming for something big. It may not be today; it may not be next week, but Teasley seems dead set on finding a way to keep up with an ever-improving group of NFC opponents. 

The Vikings are set to have needs at quarterback, running back, tight end, outside linebacker, middle linebacker, cornerback, defensive line and more next offseason. There’s certainly a fair argument that being overaggressive at the deadline may only complicate the team’s long-term challenges, but with a generational defense and the league’s last undefeated record, Teasley may see an opportunity he cannot pass up.

After all, who cares about long-term roster building if Minnesota finally experiences a Super Bowl parade in just a few months?