Cleveland Browns–Minnesota Vikings Trade History

Minnesota acquired defensive lineman Bob Denton from Cleveland for its 1962 tenth-round selection, No. 129 overall. Denton became a useful early Viking, appearing in 56 games from 1961 through 1964 and starting nine. Cleveland used the pick on center Jerry Goerlitz, who did not play a regular-season NFL game. The transaction was modest in scale, but Minnesota clearly received the better realized return.

Minnesota's August 31, 1961 deal with Cleveland brought six players to the expansion Vikings: Jim Prestel, Jim Marshall, Dick Grecni, Jamie Caleb, Billy Gault and Paul Dickson. Cleveland received 1962 picks No. 17 and No. 142. Marshall became a franchise pillar for 19 seasons, making Minnesota the overwhelming winner.

Minnesota sent Cleveland a 1963 sixth-round pick and received Tom Franckhauser, Errol Linden, Charley Ferguson, and Fred Cox. The pick became Ernie Borghetti, while Cox developed into the defining return: he spent 15 seasons with the Vikings, became the franchise's longtime scoring leader, and helped multiple championship teams. The Browns received a late-round selection; Minnesota acquired several players and a lasting special-teams fixture.

Minnesota acquired veteran receiver Leon Clarke from Cleveland on January 29, 1963, for fullback Mel Triplett. Clarke played three games for the Vikings, catching three passes for 34 yards, while Triplett never appeared in another NFL regular-season game after leaving Minnesota. The exchange produced very little value, but Minnesota received the only post-trade on-field contribution and wins narrowly.

Cleveland acquired defensive tackle Mike Bundra from Minnesota on October 5, 1964, sending the 1965 fourth-round choice that became No. 55 Jim Harris. Bundra appeared in nine games for the Browns during their 1964 championship season. Harris was drafted by Minnesota but signed with the AFL's New York Jets and never played a regular-season game for the Vikings. Cleveland received the only immediate team-specific field value and earns the edge.

Cleveland sent wide receiver Ron Green to Minnesota for a future draft choice whose exact selection is not securely identified. Green had appeared in only five regular-season games for the Browns across 1967 and 1968, so Cleveland moved a lightly used player for additional draft value. Green did not add regular-season production for Minnesota after the exchange, leaving the Vikings with little measurable return.

Minnesota acquired veteran nose tackle Jerry Ball from Cleveland on September 29, 1999, sending defensive lineman Stalin Colinet and a 2000 seventh-round pick. Ball started 10 of 13 games for the Vikings and helped a playoff team before retiring after the season. Cleveland received the younger Colinet, who started nine games immediately and 16 more in 2000, giving the expansion Browns useful multi-season value as well.

Minnesota reacquired veteran lineman Everett Lindsay from Cleveland on August 15, 2001, sending the Browns a 2002 fifth-round pick that became linebacker Andra Davis at No. 141. Lindsay gave the Vikings 44 games and 13 starts over three seasons. Davis became a seven-year Cleveland contributor and longtime starter, giving the Browns substantially more durable value from the exchange.

Cleveland turned Spergon Wynn, Travis Prentice and a seventh-round selection into a 2002 fifth-round pick. Minnesota needed immediate depth, but Wynn struggled in two starts, Prentice contributed little as a runner, and Chad Beasley provided no meaningful NFL return. Without assigning the fifth-rounder to a disputed downstream selection, Cleveland still extracted the stronger asset value.

Cleveland traded defensive end Stalin Colinet and a 2002 seventh-round pick to Minnesota on October 16, 2001, receiving the Vikings’ 2003 fifth-round selection. Minnesota got 11 games and one sack from Colinet before his tenure ended. Cleveland used the fifth-rounder at No. 142 on long snapper Ryan Pontbriand, who became a durable two-time Pro Bowl specialist for the Browns.

Minnesota and Cleveland exchanged offensive linemen just before the 2005 season, with the Vikings receiving center Melvin Fowler and the Browns taking tackle Nat Dorsey. Fowler started nine of his 10 games for Minnesota and filled an immediate need. Dorsey remained with Cleveland for three seasons but started only twice there. The difference is modest, yet Minnesota received the more useful on-field contribution from the swap.

Minnesota traded reserve defensive end Jayme Mitchell to Cleveland for a 2012 sixth-round pick that became kicker Blair Walsh. Mitchell did not play for Cleveland in 2010 and lasted only one active Browns season. Walsh made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, set an NFL record with 10 field goals from at least 50 yards in 2012 and kicked for Minnesota for parts of five seasons.

Cleveland sent two sixth-round picks to Minnesota to move up to No. 150 for guard Jason Pinkston. Pinkston started 24 games for the Browns before a serious blood-clot issue shortened his career. Minnesota selected DeMarcus Love and Mistral Raymond; Raymond supplied defensive and special-teams depth, while Love never appeared in a regular-season game. Cleveland's short-lived starter gives the Browns a narrow edge.

Minnesota moved down one spot from No. 3 to No. 4 and still drafted Matt Kalil, while Cleveland paid picks No. 118, 139 and 211 to secure Trent Richardson. Kalil made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, Jarius Wright became a useful receiver and Robert Blanton contributed in the secondary.

Minnesota paid a fifth-round pick to move from No. 9 to No. 8 and selected Anthony Barr, who became an eight-year defensive cornerstone and four-time Pro Bowler for the Vikings. Cleveland used the ninth pick on Justin Gilbert, whose Browns tenure lasted only two seasons, while the extra fifth became David Yankey for Minnesota. The enormous gap between Barr and Gilbert makes this a decisive Vikings victory.

Minnesota sent pick No. 156 and a 2023 fourth-rounder to Cleveland to move up for cornerback Akayleb Evans at No. 118. Cleveland used No. 156 on running back Jerome Ford and the future fourth on edge defender Isaiah McGuire. Evans gave Minnesota stretches of starting work, but Ford became a productive backfield contributor and McGuire added defensive rotation value. Two useful Browns for one inconsistent Vikings corner gives Cleveland the edge.

Cleveland acquired Za'Darius Smith plus 2025 sixth- and seventh-round picks from Minnesota for fifth-round selections in 2024 and 2025. Smith produced 10.5 sacks across 25 Browns games, then Cleveland traded him to Detroit and recovered a 2025 fifth plus a 2026 sixth. Minnesota used the 2024 fifth in its move up for J.J. McCarthy and the 2025 fifth on Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Cleveland extracted the stronger overall return.