Minnesota Vikings
Trade grades, verdicts, asset movement, and historical context for Minnesota Vikings franchise trades.
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Minnesota Vikings
New York acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Minnesota for a 2027 fifth-round pick on September 28, 2026. The Giants get a 23-year-old former No. 10 overall pick for a Day 3 selection, giving them inexpensive quarterback upside after injuries hit the position. Minnesota converts a displaced backup into future draft capital, but the current-read value edge goes to New York because a fifth-round pick is a modest price for a recent first-round quarterback with starting experience.
New England acquired Walter Rouse and Minnesota’s 2027 seventh-round pick for a 2027 sixth-round pick on August 30, 2026. Rouse, a 2024 sixth-rounder with eight NFL appearances, gives the Patriots tackle-guard depth after an injury weakened their reserve line. Minnesota improves its draft slot while moving surplus depth, but New England gets the slight edge because the pick downgrade buys a young, experienced lineman at a position of need.
Minnesota sent New England the 234th pick in the 2026 draft plus a 2027 sixth-round choice to move up to No. 198 for running back Demond Claiborne. The Patriots used No. 234 on quarterback Behren Morton. Both rookies made their clubs' initial 53-man rosters, while the future sixth remains unresolved, making an even grade appropriate.
Minnesota moved down two spots in the second round of the 2026 draft, sending Nos. 49 and 196 to Carolina for Nos. 51 and 159. The Panthers used No. 49 on Lee Hunter, while the Vikings selected Jake Golday at No. 51 and Max Bredeson at No. 159. Minnesota preserved access to a second-round target while improving from the sixth to the fifth round, supporting a B- versus Carolina's C.
Philadelphia acquired Jonathan Greenard and pick No. 244 from Minnesota for pick No. 98 and a 2027 third-round selection, then committed a major extension to the veteran edge defender. Greenard brought a Pro Bowl résumé but entered 2026 after an injury-limited 2025 season, and a pectoral issue later threatened his availability for the start of the season. The upside still supports a B for Philadelphia, while Minnesota's two third-round assets earn a C.
Minnesota brought Adam Thielen home along with a 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder, while Carolina received a 2026 fifth and a 2027 fourth. Thielen produced only eight catches for 69 yards in 11 Vikings games before his Minnesota return ended. Carolina therefore converted an aging receiver into the two more valuable selections, creating a clear value advantage for the Panthers.
Indianapolis acquired Mekhi Blackmon from Minnesota for a 2026 sixth-round pick shortly before roster cuts, betting on a corner returning from a torn ACL. Blackmon responded by playing all 17 games, starting 11 and recording 64 tackles, seven passes defensed, two interceptions and a sack. Minnesota moved the sixth-rounder again, leaving the Colts with the clearly stronger direct football return.
Minnesota sent Sam Howell and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Philadelphia for a 2026 fifth and a 2027 seventh. Howell did not record a regular-season pass for the Eagles in 2025, serving as quarterback depth rather than creating measurable game production. Minnesota's fifth became pick No. 163, Charles Demmings, while the Vikings also retained the future seventh. The stronger draft position gives Minnesota the early advantage.
The Jets acquired defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and a 2027 seventh-round pick from Minnesota on August 21, 2025, sending the Vikings 2026 and 2027 sixth-round selections. Phillips then started all 17 games for New York and recorded 60 tackles, adding dependable interior snaps immediately. Minnesota gained two draft assets for a veteran it was prepared to move, but the Jets received the stronger proven return.
Minnesota sent pick 142 to Seattle for quarterback Sam Howell and pick 172, then converted No. 172 into picks 201 and 202 for Kobe King and Gavin Bartholomew. Howell did not make the regular-season roster, but Minnesota later packaged him and a 2026 sixth to Philadelphia for 2026 fifth- and 2027 seventh-round picks. Seattle used 142 on Rylie Mills, leaving a modest Vikings edge.
Minnesota sent pick No. 172 to the Rams during the 2025 draft and received Nos. 201 and 202, selecting Kobe King and Gavin Bartholomew. Los Angeles used No. 172 on Chris Paul Jr., who did not make the Rams' regular-season roster. Both Vikings selections reached the NFL roster picture, giving Minnesota the stronger early return.
Minnesota moved from No. 97 to No. 102 in the 2025 third round and also moved from No. 187 to No. 142, selecting receiver Tai Felton while Houston selected cornerback Jaylin Smith. The two clubs essentially exchanged small pockets of draft position across two rounds. Neither side has created enough separation yet to justify more than an even verdict.
Minnesota acquired Jordan Mason and a 2025 sixth-round pick from San Francisco for a 2025 fifth-rounder and a 2026 sixth-rounder. Mason immediately supplied starting-caliber rushing production, while the 49ers turned the fifth-round slot into safety Marques Sigle and retained another future selection. Both teams found usable value, but Mason's 2025 workload gives Minnesota the modest edge.
Houston acquired guard Ed Ingram from Minnesota for a 2026 sixth-round pick after he had lost his Vikings starting job. Ingram rebounded to start 14 regular-season games and both Texans playoff games in 2025, then earned a three-year extension. Minnesota moved the acquired sixth-rounder in the Jordan Mason trade and later reacquired the same draft slot at additional cost, strengthening Houston's side.
Minnesota acquired Cam Robinson at midseason after Christian Darrisaw was injured and received the veteran tackle play it urgently needed during a 14-win season. Jacksonville ultimately secured a 2026 fourth-round pick, a respectable return for a player on an expiring contract. The Jaguars were compensated fairly, but Robinson's immediate role in stabilizing Minnesota's line gives the Vikings the modest edge.
Minnesota reacquired running back Cam Akers from Houston on October 15, 2024, with a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick, sending a conditional 2026 sixth-rounder to the Texans. Akers played 12 regular-season games for Minnesota and rushed for 297 yards while providing needed backfield depth. With the eventual pick movement amounting to a one-round difference, the Vikings received the better practical return.
Minnesota and Dallas swapped former second-round cornerbacks Nahshon Wright and Andrew Booth Jr. during the 2024 preseason. Wright appeared in one regular-season game for the Vikings. Booth played seven games and made two starts for Dallas. The Cowboys received more immediate snaps, but neither player became a durable contributor for the acquiring club.
Minnesota moved from No. 23 to No. 17 in 2024 for edge rusher Dallas Turner, sending Jacksonville four selections. Turner developed from a rookie reserve into a 10-game starter with eight sacks and four forced fumbles in 2025. Jacksonville still owns the stronger return because No. 23 became Brian Thomas Jr., who posted a 1,282-yard Pro Bowl rookie season, while the additional Jaguars assets provided extra value around him.
Minnesota moved from No. 11 to No. 10 in 2024 for quarterback J.J. McCarthy and also received No. 203, used on kicker Will Reichard. New York drafted left tackle Olu Fashanu and moved the additional picks in later deals. Fashanu became a 17-game starter in 2025, while McCarthy’s first playing season produced 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Reichard’s First-Team All-Pro season keeps Minnesota’s return competitive despite the quarterback uncertainty.
Minnesota acquired Houston's 2024 first-round pick at No. 23 plus No. 232, while Houston received Nos. 42 and 188 in 2024 plus Minnesota's 2025 second-rounder. The Texans turned No. 42 into starting corner Kamari Lassiter, while Minnesota later used No. 23 as the centerpiece of its move up for Dallas Turner and drafted Levi Drake Rodriguez at No. 232. Houston holds the early edge.
Minnesota acquired Joshua Dobbs and a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick from Arizona for a sixth after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles. Dobbs delivered two memorable comeback wins but finished his Vikings stint with 895 passing yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions before losing the job. The seventh-rounder became Michael Jurgens, who made three center starts in 2025. Arizona received a sixth-round asset. Minnesota still won, but the original A- grade was too generous.
Minnesota sent starting guard Ezra Cleveland to Jacksonville at the 2023 deadline for a 2024 sixth-round pick, which became tackle Walter Rouse at No. 177. Cleveland quickly became a Jaguars starter, re-signed in 2024 and started 36 regular-season games for Jacksonville through 2025. Rouse played eight games without a start over his first two Vikings seasons. Jacksonville obtained far more immediate and sustained value.
Minnesota acquired Cam Akers from Los Angeles in September 2023 while swapping conditional 2026 late-round picks. Neither conditional pick ultimately conveyed, leaving the Vikings with Akers at no realized draft cost. He produced 138 rushing yards, 70 receiving yards and one touchdown in six games before an Achilles injury ended his season, making Minnesota the modest winner.
Minnesota traded tackle Vederian Lowe to New England on August 28, 2023, for a 2024 sixth-round pick, No. 188. The Vikings later moved that selection as part of subsequent draft maneuvering; Jamal Hill was eventually chosen at No. 188 by another club. Lowe provided New England some tackle starts, but Minnesota's recovery of useful draft capital for a reserve gives the Vikings a slight 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.
Kansas City moved up fifteen spots in the fourth round of the 2023 draft for defensive back Chamarri Conner, sending Minnesota pick No. 134 and a 2024 fifth-round choice. The Vikings selected Jay Ward at No. 134 and later moved the future pick. Conner has become the strongest individual contributor, while Minnesota received the larger asset package.
Minnesota moved up from No. 158 to No. 141 in the 2023 draft and selected defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy. Indianapolis received No. 158, used on Daniel Scott, and No. 211, used on Titus Leo. Roy produced regular-season snaps and sacks, while the Colts' two selections yielded limited early playing time, giving Minnesota the edge.
Minnesota traded pick No. 87 to San Francisco in the 2023 draft for Nos. 102, 164 and 222. The Vikings selected Mekhi Blackmon, Jaren Hall and DeWayne McBride, while the 49ers used No. 87 on safety Ji'Ayir Brown. Brown became the most durable starter in the deal, reaching 31 starts and five interceptions through 2025. San Francisco therefore produced the stronger concentrated return.
Minnesota acquired T.J. Hockenson plus two later picks from Detroit for a 2023 second and 2024 third. Hockenson became a central target, setting a Vikings tight end record with 95 catches and 960 yards in 2023 before a severe knee injury reduced his next two seasons. Detroit repeatedly moved the acquired picks, with the assets helping lead to Hendon Hooker and the 2024 move for Terrion Arnold. Minnesota still holds a narrow edge.
Minnesota acquired Jalen Reagor from Philadelphia for a 2023 seventh-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth that became a fifth. Reagor caught only eight passes for 104 yards in his lone Vikings season and was waived the following summer. Philadelphia did not keep the two picks through their final selections, but converting a player buried on the depth chart into future draft capital was still useful. The Eagles won by selling before Reagor's value disappeared.
Minnesota acquired defensive lineman Ross Blacklock and a 2023 seventh-round pick from Houston on August 30, 2022, sending a 2023 sixth-round selection in return. Blacklock played one season for the Vikings before being released. Houston’s acquired pick became No. 201, Jarrett Patterson, while Minnesota later moved the seventh-rounder in another trade.
Minnesota traded Jesse Davis to Pittsburgh after rookie Ed Ingram won the Vikings' right-guard job, receiving a conditional seventh-round pick. Davis appeared in 14 games for the Steelers in 2022 but did not start, serving primarily as experienced depth. The condition attached to the pick did not produce meaningful value for Minnesota in the locked record. Pittsburgh therefore gets a narrow win for obtaining usable veteran depth at essentially no realized draft cost.
Minnesota acquired Nick Mullens from Las Vegas for a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick. Mullens became a multi-year Vikings backup and, when injuries struck in 2023, started three games while throwing for 1,306 yards and seven touchdowns across five appearances. Las Vegas eventually used pick No. 229 on M.J. Devonshire. For a seventh-round cost, Minnesota received meaningful quarterback insurance and emergency starting production, making the trade a clear Vikings win.
Minnesota traded picks No. 122 and No. 250 to Las Vegas for Nos. 126 and 227 in the 2022 draft. The Raiders selected Zamir White and Brittain Brown. Minnesota took Nick Muse at No. 227 and immediately flipped No. 126 for Nos. 165 and 169, adding Esezi Otomewo and Ty Chandler. Chandler's production roughly matched White's, while the Vikings also gained extra depth, creating a narrow Minnesota edge.
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.
Green Bay sent picks 53 and 59 to Minnesota for No. 34 and selected Christian Watson. Watson has 133 catches for 2,264 yards and 20 receiving touchdowns through four seasons and signed another extension in 2026. Minnesota used No. 59 on Ed Ingram and later packaged No. 53 with other picks to move up for Andrew Booth Jr. Ingram supplied 41 starts, but Watson became the highest-impact player, giving Green Bay the win.
Minnesota moved up in the 2022 second round and came away with cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. at No. 42 plus the No. 122 pick, which was later moved again. Indianapolis turned the return into Alec Pierce, Bernhard Raimann and Andrew Ogletree. Booth never supplied comparable value, while Pierce and especially Raimann became meaningful Colts contributors, giving Indianapolis the clearer long-term return.
Detroit sent picks 32, 34 and 66 to Minnesota for Nos. 12 and 46, selecting Jameson Williams and Josh Paschal. Williams has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in consecutive seasons and signed an extension through 2029; Paschal has supplied defensive-line depth. Minnesota drafted Lewis Cine and Brian Asamoah and later moved No. 34 through additional trades. Cine was waived after two seasons, and the Vikings never found comparable value. Detroit won decisively.
Denver acquired Stephen Weatherly and Minnesota's 2023 seventh-round pick for a 2022 seventh-rounder. Weatherly supplied immediate rotational snaps for an injury-hit defense, and the Broncos also replaced much of the draft capital they spent by taking back a later seventh. With both picks eventually moving again, Weatherly's actual games in Denver provide the clearest realized value and give the Broncos the stronger return.
Minnesota acquired Chris Herndon plus a 2022 sixth-round pick from the Jets for a 2022 fourth after Irv Smith Jr. suffered a season-ending injury. Herndon played all 16 games but caught only four passes for 40 yards and one touchdown. The sixth-rounder became Vederian Lowe, whom Minnesota later traded to New England for another sixth. New York used pick No. 117 on Micheal Clemons, who has 8.5 sacks and 24 starts through four seasons. The Jets won decisively.
Minnesota traded cornerback Mike Hughes and a 2022 seventh-round choice to Kansas City for a 2022 sixth-round pick. Hughes gave the Chiefs one useful season, but Minnesota used No. 191 on Jalen Nailor, who developed into a productive receiver with 1,066 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns through 2025. Nailor's multi-year contribution gives the Vikings the better return.
Minnesota moved from No. 14 to No. 23 in 2021 and received two third-round picks, selecting Christian Darrisaw, Kellen Mond and Wyatt Davis. Darrisaw became a high-level starting left tackle and earned an extension through 2029; Mond and Davis failed to stick. New York used No. 14 on Alijah Vera-Tucker, a versatile starting lineman whose career has been repeatedly interrupted by major injuries. Darrisaw plus the additional opportunities keep Minnesota ahead.
Minnesota acquired interior lineman Mason Cole from Arizona for the 223rd pick in the 2021 draft. Cole appeared in 14 games and started seven for the Vikings, providing useful center and guard depth. Arizona selected Tay Gowan at No. 223 and later included him in the Zach Ertz trade, giving both clubs some value.
Minnesota sent Yannick Ngakoue to Baltimore after only six games, receiving a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 fifth. The Ravens got three sacks in nine regular-season games before Ngakoue left in free agency. Minnesota used the third-rounder on Patrick Jones II, who recorded 12 sacks across four Vikings seasons, including seven in 2024, while the fifth became part of later draft movement. The Vikings clearly recovered more value.
Minnesota acquired Yannick Ngakoue from Jacksonville for a 2021 second-round pick and conditional 2022 fifth, but the experiment lasted only six games. Ngakoue recorded five sacks before the Vikings traded him to Baltimore for a third and conditional fifth, recovering much of the cost. Jacksonville used the second-rounder on Walker Little, who developed into a starting tackle and earned an extension in 2024. The Jaguars won, though Minnesota's successful salvage keeps the loss from being severe.
Minnesota traded picks No. 201 and No. 219 in the 2020 draft to Baltimore for No. 225 and a 2021 fifth-rounder. The Vikings selected Kenny Willekes and later Zach Davidson; Baltimore used its choices on James Proche and Geno Stone. Stone became the difference-maker, developing into a productive safety and recording a seven-interception season for Baltimore in 2023. Minnesota's return never approached that level of impact.
Minnesota turned a future fourth-round pick into safety Camryn Bynum after Chicago used the acquired 2020 fifth-rounder on edge rusher Trevis Gipson. Gipson supplied some pass-rush production during three Bears seasons, but Bynum became a full-time Vikings starter from 2022 through 2024, starting every regular-season game in that span and producing eight interceptions before leaving in free agency.
Minnesota sent New Orleans pick No. 105, which became tight end Adam Trautman, and received four later selections that became James Lynch, Harrison Hand, Blake Brandel and Nate Stanley. Trautman developed into a useful Saints tight end, but Brandel became a long-term Vikings lineman and eventual starter, while Lynch and Hand added supporting snaps. Minnesota's broader return produced slightly more lasting value.
San Francisco moved from No. 31 to No. 25 and selected Brandon Aiyuk, while Minnesota used the return on Jeff Gladney, D.J. Wonnum and K.J. Osborn. The Vikings extracted multiple useful players, especially Wonnum and Osborn, but Aiyuk became an All-Pro receiver with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and a major extension. His top-end impact gives the 49ers a narrow but meaningful win.
Minnesota turned an unhappy-star situation into the No. 22 pick in 2020 and used it on Justin Jefferson, immediately replacing elite receiver production with a younger centerpiece on a rookie contract. The additional fifth-, sixth-, and future fourth-round assets deepened the return. Because Jefferson became a franchise-level receiver rather than merely a serviceable replacement, Minnesota achieved the rare outcome of trading away a star without losing the long-term talent battle.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota acquired cornerback Mark Fields from Kansas City on August 31, 2019, for a conditional 2021 seventh-round selection. The condition was never met, so the pick did not convey and the Chiefs ultimately received no draft asset. Fields provided the Vikings with short-term secondary depth, enough tangible value at zero realized draft cost to give Minnesota the edge.
Miami acquired guard Danny Isidora from Minnesota on the eve of 2019 final roster cuts for a 2020 seventh-round selection. Isidora gave the Dolphins inexpensive interior-line depth and saw meaningful action during the season. Minnesota recovered a future late-round asset for a player outside its core plans and later moved that selection again, but Miami received the clearer direct playing contribution from the original exchange.
Minnesota sent Baltimore a 2020 fifth-round pick for kicker-punter Kaare Vedvik after his strong 2019 preseason. Vedvik struggled after the trade and was waived before the regular season, so he never appeared in a game for the Vikings. Baltimore converted a specialist unlikely to make its roster into draft capital that later became defensive tackle Broderick Washington.
Minnesota moved up six spots in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, sending Seattle picks No. 120 and No. 204 for No. 114 and selecting guard Dru Samia. Samia never secured a lasting Vikings role. Seattle got little from Gary Jennings, but Travis Homer became a useful reserve running back and core special-teams contributor over four seasons.
Minnesota moved from pick No. 159 to No. 162 in the 2019 draft and added No. 239, selecting Cameron Smith and Dillon Mitchell. New England used No. 159 on defensive tackle Byron Cowart. Cowart played 19 games for the Patriots and started 14 in 2020, while Minnesota received limited football value from its two selections. New England won the small draft-day exchange.
Seattle moved up from No. 92 to No. 88 in the third round of the 2019 draft and also received No. 209. Minnesota received No. 92 and fifth-rounder No. 159. The Seahawks selected linebacker Cody Barton at 88 and defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas at 209. The Minnesota Vikings produced the stronger realized return, supporting the Minnesota Vikings Win verdict.
Minnesota sent pick No. 93 to Baltimore and received Nos. 102, 191 and 193. The Vikings selected Alexander Mattison, Marcus Epps and Oli Udoh, extracting several seasons of useful roster value from the three selections. Mattison served as Dalvin Cook’s primary backup before becoming the starter in 2023, while Udoh provided multi-position offensive-line depth. Baltimore used No. 93 on Miles Boykin, whose receiving impact remained limited.
Detroit moved from No. 88 to No. 81 in the third round of the 2019 draft, sending Minnesota pick No. 88 and sixth-rounder No. 204. The Lions used No. 81 on Boston College safety Will Harris, while Minnesota subsequently used the incoming selections as ammunition in additional draft-day trades. The Detroit Lions produced the stronger realized return, supporting the Detroit Lions Win verdict.
The Jets moved up one spot from No. 93 to No. 92 in the 2019 third round and selected tackle Chuma Edoga. Minnesota received No. 93 plus seventh-round pick No. 217, then continued trading: No. 93 went to Baltimore for Nos. 102, 191 and 193, while No. 217 became cornerback Kris Boyd. The Minnesota Vikings produced the stronger realized return, supporting the Minnesota Vikings Win verdict.
Minnesota acquired center Brett Jones from the Giants for a 2019 seventh-round pick and immediately used him as injury insurance. Jones started the first three games of 2018 while Pat Elflein recovered, returned for additional seasons, and later remained useful interior-line depth. New York's pick became George Asafo-Adjei, who did not create comparable Giants value, giving Minnesota the edge.
Minnesota moved up for kicker Daniel Carlson and also acquired Devante Downs, but Carlson was waived after two games and his later All-Pro success came entirely with Las Vegas. New York used Minnesota’s selections on Folorunso Fatukasi and Trenton Cannon. Fatukasi became a useful Jets starter, giving New York far more team-specific value from the exchange.
Minnesota sent pick No. 94 to Tampa Bay for Nos. 102 and 180. The Buccaneers used No. 94 on Alex Cappa, who developed into a starting right guard and played on the 2020 Super Bowl championship team. Minnesota drafted Jalyn Holmes at No. 102 and later moved No. 180 in another trade, but the resulting branch produced far less Vikings value than Cappa delivered in Tampa Bay.
Minnesota acquired quarterback Trevor Siemian and the 225th pick in the 2018 draft from Denver for a 2019 fifth-round selection. Siemian served as Kirk Cousins' backup for one season and did not make a regular-season start for the Vikings. Denver eventually used the fifth-round return on linebacker Justin Hollins, who appeared in 15 games as a rookie. The Broncos gained the slightly cleaner direct return.
Minnesota traded pick No. 139 to Kansas City for picks No. 170 and No. 180 in the 2017 draft. The Vikings selected receiver Rodney Adams and guard Danny Isidora, while the Chiefs chose receiver Jehu Chesson. Adams made little impact, but Isidora appeared in 21 games for Minnesota and made several starts. Chesson caught only two passes for Kansas City before his tenure ended, giving Minnesota the better modest return.
Minnesota moved down two spots late in the 2017 sixth round and also changed seventh-round positions, landing Bucky Hodges at No. 201 and Ifeadi Odenigbo at No. 220. Washington used No. 199 on center Chase Roullier and No. 230 on Josh Harvey-Clemons. Roullier’s long run as a starting center gives Washington the stronger return.
Philadelphia moved from No. 139 to No. 132 in the 2017 fourth round and selected running back Donnel Pumphrey, sending Minnesota No. 139 and No. 230. Pumphrey never appeared in a regular-season game for the Eagles. Minnesota kept trading those selections and eventually turned the chain into several players, including defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, who became a productive Vikings rotational pass rusher and 15-game starter in 2020.
Kansas City sent picks No. 104, 132 and 245 to Minnesota to jump to No. 86 for Kareem Hunt. Hunt immediately led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards as a rookie and remained an explosive offensive weapon until the Chiefs released him during the 2018 season. Minnesota repeatedly traded the return and ultimately produced players including Jaleel Johnson, Stacy Coley, Rodney Adams, Danny Isidora and Jack Tocho, none matching Hunt’s peak impact.
Minnesota moved from No. 48 to No. 41 in the 2017 second round for Dalvin Cook, sending Cincinnati pick No. 48 and No. 128. Cook became a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the Vikings' most productive modern running backs. Cincinnati selected Joe Mixon at No. 48, and Mixon produced seven strong seasons, a Pro Bowl campaign and major postseason contributions. Both teams found foundational offensive value.
Minnesota traded picks No. 79 and No. 160 to the Jets for No. 70, then selected center Pat Elflein. Elflein became an immediate starter, earned PFWA All-Rookie honors and started 43 games for the Vikings across four seasons. New York selected ArDarius Stewart at No. 79 and later moved the fifth-round asset through additional trades, but its resulting players did not match the sustained starting value Minnesota received.
San Francisco sent picks No. 109 and No. 219 to Minnesota to move back into the 2017 third round for quarterback C.J. Beathard. Beathard made 12 starts and provided several seasons of backup value for the 49ers. Minnesota selected defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson and receiver Stacy Coley; Johnson became a four-year rotational lineman with 20 starts. Neither side found a star, but both received useful depth.
Philadelphia converted Sam Bradford into a 2017 first-round pick and a 2018 fourth-round pick while clearing the starting job for Carson Wentz. Those selections became Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat, two defensive contributors to the franchise's championship-era rosters. Because Bradford was no longer central to Philadelphia's plan, turning him into premium draft capital was outstanding asset management and gave the Eagles both immediate roster clarity and long-term value.
Miami moved back ten spots in the sixth round and added Jakeem Grant at No. 186, sending Minnesota No. 196 and No. 227. Grant became a dangerous return specialist and useful receiver for the Dolphins. Minnesota turned the two incoming choices into Stephen Weatherly plus part of the package used to move up for tight end David Morgan.
Minnesota sent Philadelphia picks No. 196 and No. 240 in the 2016 draft to move up to No. 188 for tight end David Morgan. The Eagles selected Blake Countess and Alex McCalister. Morgan played 38 NFL games and became a useful run-game tight end for the Vikings, giving Minnesota the best direct return in the exchange.
Miami paid a 2016 sixth-rounder plus 2017 third- and fourth-round picks to move up for Leonte Carroo at No. 86. Carroo caught only 12 passes for 192 yards in three Dolphins seasons. Minnesota kept trading the acquired capital, turning it into multiple later opportunities instead of one player. The Vikings' return was indirect, but the amount of usable draft value clearly surpassed Miami's result.
Minnesota traded linebacker Gerald Hodges to San Francisco in October 2015 for center Nick Easton and a 2016 sixth-round pick, later used on Moritz Boehringer. Boehringer never became a regular-season factor, but Easton developed into a useful Vikings interior lineman and made 17 starts for Minnesota. Hodges gave the 49ers immediate linebacker snaps, yet the combined Easton-plus-pick return created the better long-term value for the Vikings.
Minnesota acquired offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles from San Diego in September 2015 for a 2016 sixth-round pick. Sirles became useful swing-line depth and started 14 games for Minnesota across 2016 and 2017. The Chargers used the pick at No. 198 on Derek Watt, a durable fullback and special-teams contributor. Both teams received an NFL player, but Sirles filled a more immediate and valuable Minnesota need.
Minnesota sent pick No. 137 to Atlanta for Nos. 146 and 185. The Vikings used No. 146 on Stefon Diggs, who became a star receiver and later brought back another major draft package. Atlanta selected Grady Jarrett at No. 137, landing a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and long-term franchise cornerstone. When both sides turn fifth-round territory into elite players, neither deserves to be called the loser.
Minnesota moved from No. 76 to No. 80 in the 2015 third round and added pick No. 193, allowing Kansas City to select receiver Chris Conley. The Vikings then flipped No. 80 to Detroit for Nos. 88 and 143, selecting Danielle Hunter and MyCole Pruitt. Conley became a useful Chiefs receiver, but Hunter developed into a multiple-time Pro Bowler and elite pass rusher. The downstream move makes Minnesota the clear winner.
Minnesota moved from pick No. 80 to No. 88 and added pick No. 143 in a deal with Detroit. The Vikings selected Danielle Hunter and MyCole Pruitt, while the Lions used No. 80 on cornerback Alex Carter. Hunter became a multiple-Pro Bowl pass rusher and one of the youngest players in NFL history to reach 50 sacks. Carter barely played for Detroit. Minnesota turned a move down into a franchise-changing defender.
Minnesota sent Matt Cassel and a 2015 sixth-round pick to Buffalo for a 2015 fifth and a 2016 seventh. The key was what the Vikings did next: they flipped the fifth-rounder, No. 137, to Atlanta for Nos. 146 and 185, selecting Stefon Diggs and Tyrus Thompson. Cassel barely figured into Buffalo's season, while the pick chain helped Minnesota land a franchise-changing receiver.
Minnesota sent pick No. 168 to Atlanta in the 2014 draft for picks No. 182 and No. 220. Atlanta selected linebacker Marquis Spruill, while Minnesota took defensive back Antone Exum and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen. Stephen became a long-term NFL lineman and multi-year Vikings starter, easily providing the strongest return in the transaction. Exum added further depth, making Minnesota's trade-down a clear success.
Minnesota moved down from No. 148 in the 2014 draft, receiving picks No. 168 and No. 225 from Carolina. The Panthers selected cornerback Bene Benwikere, while Minnesota later moved No. 168 to Atlanta and used No. 225 on Jabari Price. Benwikere's 27 games and 14 starts for Carolina give the Panthers the better return.
Minnesota moved back into the first round for Teddy Bridgewater, sending Seattle picks No. 40 and No. 108. Bridgewater became the Vikings' starter, made the Pro Bowl after the 2015 season and helped produce an NFC North title before a catastrophic knee injury changed his trajectory. Seattle traded No. 40 again and collected additional selections while using No. 108 on Cassius Marsh. Both sides got useful value, with Minnesota's starting-quarterback payoff providing the stronger peak.
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 traded the 2013 No. 189 selection to Tampa Bay for picks No. 196 and No. 229. The Buccaneers used No. 189 on running back Mike James, while the Vikings selected guard Jeff Baca and defensive tackle Everett Dawkins. James produced the most meaningful NFL contribution of the three, including 351 rushing yards across his career. Minnesota's two-player return offered depth but very little sustained value.
Minnesota traded four selections to New England for pick No. 29 and selected Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson became an elite return specialist immediately and earned multiple All-Pro honors, but he never developed into a consistent featured receiver during four Vikings seasons. New England used the premium picks on Jamie Collins and Logan Ryan, both major defensive contributors to championship teams, plus Josh Boyce and another late selection. The Patriots converted quantity into higher overall value.
Minnesota converted Percy Harvin into a first-round pick, a seventh-round pick, and a future third-rounder, then used the premium pieces on Xavier Rhodes and Jerick McKinnon. Rhodes became an All-Pro-caliber cornerback at his peak, while McKinnon supplied multiple useful seasons. Harvin's Seattle tenure was brief and injury-limited. The Seahawks did receive a memorable championship contribution, but Minnesota extracted substantially more sustained roster value from the package.
Minnesota acquired cornerback A.J. Jefferson and Arizona's 2013 seventh-round pick for a 2013 sixth-rounder. Jefferson immediately entered the Vikings' defensive rotation, while the seventh-rounder became linebacker Michael Mauti, another useful roster piece. Arizona ultimately did not use the outgoing sixth-round selection itself. The Vikings received two players who contributed in Minnesota, enough to make the modest move a clear but unspectacular win.
Minnesota sent the 2012 No. 211 pick to Tennessee for the Titans' 2013 sixth-round selection. Tennessee used No. 211 on Scott Solomon. Minnesota's future choice became No. 176, which the Vikings later moved to Arizona in the A.J. Jefferson trade and used that exchange to add Jefferson plus the pick that became Michael Mauti. Official Titans records confirm that No. 163 and No. 224 were not part of this transaction.
Detroit turned a fifth- and seventh-round package into linebacker Tahir Whitehead and Travis Lewis, while Minnesota received Trevor Guyton plus a future fourth-rounder. Whitehead became the decisive piece, growing into a long-term Detroit starter and productive linebacker. Minnesota later used the future fourth as part of its 2013 move for Cordarrelle Patterson, which prevents this from being a lopsided loss, but Detroit realized the cleaner direct return.
Minnesota sent picks No. 35 and No. 98 to Baltimore for No. 29 in the 2012 draft and selected safety Harrison Smith. Smith became a six-time Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro and long-term defensive leader for the Vikings. Baltimore used the incoming selections on Courtney Upshaw and Gino Gradkowski, both useful contributors, but neither matched Smith's peak or longevity.
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 acquired Donovan McNabb from Washington in 2011 for a 2012 sixth-round pick and a conditional 2013 sixth that was not ultimately conveyed. McNabb started only six games before rookie Christian Ponder replaced him, and Minnesota released him during the season. Washington used the conveyed pick on Alfred Morris, who rushed for 1,613 yards as a rookie and became a multi-year starter. The Commanders received vastly more value.
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 reunited Randy Moss with Brett Favre in a win-now move, sending New England a 2011 third-round pick while receiving Moss and a 2012 seventh-rounder. The reunion lasted only four games: Moss caught 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns before the Vikings waived him. New England used pick No. 74 on Ryan Mallett and avoided losing Moss for nothing after the season. The Patriots clearly won despite modest production from Mallett.
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.
Minnesota sent Sage Rosenfels and Darius Reynaud to New York for a 2011 fifth-round pick plus a conditional 2012 choice that was not exercised. The Vikings later traded the fifth-rounder to Cleveland for two sixth-rounders, producing DeMarcus Love and Mistral Raymond; Raymond made 10 starts in Minnesota. Rosenfels served as Eli Manning’s backup and Reynaud handled returns briefly, so Minnesota’s draft return wins narrowly.
Miami and Minnesota swapped Benny Sapp for Greg Camarillo just before the 2010 season. Sapp played all 16 games for the Dolphins that year, recording 35 tackles, 10 passes defended and two interceptions. Camarillo gave Minnesota two seasons of receiving depth and caught 29 passes for 361 yards. Both clubs received useful short-term role players without a major long-term difference.
Minnesota traded picks No. 62 and No. 93 to Houston for No. 51 and selected Toby Gerhart. Gerhart became a useful four-year backup behind Adrian Peterson, but Houston turned the acquired choices into a broader chain: No. 62 helped the Texans move up for Ben Tate, while No. 93 was traded for picks used on Darryl Sharpton and Sherrick McManis. Houston's deeper return wins narrowly.
Minnesota moved out of the final first-round slot and received three selections that became Chris Cook, Everson Griffen, and Mickey Shuler. Griffen was the decisive outcome: a fourth-round pick who developed into a four-time Pro Bowler and long-term pass-rush fixture. Detroit's target, Jahvid Best, flashed real explosiveness before concussions ended his career. The injury was unfortunate, but Minnesota's combination of extra volume and Griffen's longevity produced the stronger realized return.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota moved up eight spots in the fifth round for linebacker Jasper Brinkley, sending Washington picks 158 and 221. Brinkley became a useful Vikings defender and eventual starting middle linebacker, appearing across six seasons in Minnesota. Washington selected Cody Glenn and Eddie Williams with the return, but neither produced comparable NFL value, leaving the Vikings with the clear advantage from a modest draft-day move.
Minnesota acquired quarterback Sage Rosenfels from Houston for the 122nd pick in the 2009 draft. The Texans used that fourth-round selection on tight end Anthony Hill, who played five games for Houston as a rookie. Rosenfels never took a regular-season snap for Minnesota, leaving Houston with the slightly better direct return.
Minnesota traded defensive end Erasmus James to Washington on May 27, 2008, for a conditional 2009 seventh-round pick that became No. 221. The Vikings later used that selection as part of the move up for Jasper Brinkley, while James appeared in only five games for Washington before being released. Minnesota's recovered draft value clearly exceeded Washington's brief return.
Minnesota traded up in the fifth round of the 2008 draft to select USC quarterback John David Booty at No. 137. Green Bay received the picks that became tackle Breno Giacomini at No. 150 and quarterback Matt Flynn at No. 209. Booty never became an NFL regular, while both Packers selections produced substantially longer careers.
Minnesota traded picks No. 47 and No. 117 to Philadelphia for Nos. 43 and 152, selecting safety Tyrell Johnson and defensive lineman Letroy Guion. Philadelphia drafted Trevor Laws and Quintin Demps. All four players reached the NFL, but Minnesota received the greater sustained starting value: Johnson started 27 games for the Vikings and Guion 31, while Laws and Demps were primarily rotational contributors during their Eagles tenures.
Minnesota paid a first-round pick, two third-rounders, and a sixth-rounder for Jared Allen plus a future sixth, then received six seasons of elite edge production. Allen recorded 85.5 sacks as a Viking, including 22 in 2011, and became the centerpiece of a contending defense. The acquisition cost was enormous, but Minnesota bought a star in his prime and got star-level performance for the full competitive window it was targeting.
Minnesota traded wide receiver Troy Williamson to Jacksonville for the 193rd pick in the 2008 draft and selected Jaymar Johnson. Williamson caught only eight passes for 64 yards and one touchdown across two Jaguars seasons. Johnson made the Vikings as a reserve after a practice-squad year but recorded only one NFL reception. Both teams took inexpensive chances on disappointing assets, and neither created meaningful long-term value.
Minnesota acquired veteran quarterback Kelly Holcomb from Philadelphia for a 2009 sixth-round pick, correcting older records that described the compensation as a 2007 selection. Holcomb made three starts for the Vikings in 2007 but was only a short-term bridge. Philadelphia later included pick No. 195 in the package used to move up for Jeremy Maclin, preserving more downstream value.
Minnesota moved up only four spots in the fourth round, paying a sixth-round pick to secure Brian Robison at No. 102. Robison became an eleven-year Viking, played 173 games, and recorded 60 sacks while filling starting and rotational roles across multiple defensive eras. That is exceptional return from a small draft-day move. Tampa Bay found two legitimate contributors after moving down, but Minnesota secured the single player with the greater longevity and cumulative impact.
Minnesota sent pick No. 121 to Denver for selections Nos. 176 and 233 plus a 2008 third-round choice that became No. 73. The Vikings' two 2007 selections produced little direct value, but the future third later became part of the package used to acquire Jared Allen. Denver used No. 121 on Marcus Thomas, who played five seasons and started 34 games for the Broncos.
Minnesota moved up three spots in the 2007 second round and selected wide receiver Sidney Rice at No. 44, sending Atlanta Nos. 41 and 121. Rice developed into Brett Favre's top deep threat during the Vikings' 2009 NFC Championship run, posting 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns that season. Atlanta used No. 41 on cornerback Chris Houston, whose uneven three-year Falcons tenure left Minnesota with the stronger payoff.
Minnesota sent offensive lineman Adam Goldberg to the Rams on September 2, 2006, for a 2008 seventh-round pick that became No. 209 and was later traded before Green Bay selected Matt Flynn. Goldberg became a durable Rams lineman, appearing in 83 games with 48 starts from 2006 through 2011. That sustained lineup value gives Los Angeles the clear win.
Minnesota acquired quarterback Brooks Bollinger from the Jets for defensive tackle C.J. Mosley and a 2008 seventh-round pick. Bollinger provided emergency quarterback depth but made only a limited impact during two Vikings seasons. New York received a young defensive lineman who contributed in its rotation plus an extra draft asset, giving the Jets a modest but clear advantage.
Minnesota traded undrafted rookie Hank Baskett to Philadelphia for veteran Billy McMullen, reuniting McMullen with former Eagles coordinator Brad Childress. McMullen gave the Vikings one modest season, while Baskett became a useful Eagles role receiver for several years and topped 1,000 receiving yards for Philadelphia across his tenure. The Eagles clearly created more lasting value from the receiver swap.
Minnesota sent picks 115 and 185 to Philadelphia for guard Artis Hicks and pick 127, which became defensive end Ray Edwards. The Eagles immediately moved the two incoming selections to Green Bay for pick 109, used on Jason Avant. Both organizations extracted real value, but Minnesota received two useful players directly, including the best defensive player in the chain, while Philadelphia's downstream conversion keeps this from being a lopsided result.
Minnesota traded two third-round selections, Nos. 83 and 95, to Pittsburgh for No. 64 and drafted quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson never became a long-term franchise starter, but he started 20 games for the Vikings, helped them reach the 2008 playoffs and remained in the NFL for a decade. Pittsburgh selected safety Anthony Smith and receiver Willie Reid; neither became a lasting Steelers starter, leaving Minnesota with the better return.
Miami acquired Daunte Culpepper from Minnesota for the 51st pick in the 2006 draft while Culpepper was still recovering from a devastating knee injury. He started only four games for the Dolphins, throwing two touchdowns and three interceptions before the experiment ended. Minnesota used No. 51 on Ryan Cook, who became a versatile offensive lineman and made 40 career starts, giving the Vikings useful value while Miami absorbed one of the era's most costly quarterback misses.
Minnesota acquired guard Tonio Fonoti from the Chargers on October 18, 2005, for a 2006 seventh-round pick that became No. 227, Jimmy Martin. Fonoti's Vikings tenure amounted to one game and one start before injuries ended the experiment. The Chargers at least converted a player they were moving on from into a defined draft selection, giving them the better result.
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 moved up eight spots in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, sending Washington picks No. 120 and No. 154 for No. 112. The Vikings selected running back Ciatrick Fason; Washington chose Manuel White and Robert McCune. Fason scored five rushing touchdowns, but none of the three developed into a substantial long-term starter.
Minnesota acquired veteran linebacker Sam Cowart from the Jets on March 18, 2005, for a seventh-round pick, No. 230. Cowart started 14 of 15 games for the Vikings that season and provided immediate lineup stability. New York later moved the pick through subsequent transactions, and New England eventually used No. 230 on Matt Cassel. Minnesota's direct one-year return gives it the edge.
Oakland acquired the only transcendent player in the deal, Randy Moss, for Napoleon Harris and two draft selections. Moss still produced a 1,000-yard season in 2005 and remained the most talented asset by a wide margin, even though his two Raiders seasons fell short of his Minnesota and later New England peaks. Because Minnesota failed to convert the premium No. 7 pick into a lasting star, Oakland won the direct exchange without turning it into a franchise-changing success.
Minnesota moved down one spot in the first round of the 2004 draft, sending Miami pick No. 19 for Nos. 20 and 119. The Dolphins selected tackle Vernon Carey; the Vikings chose defensive end Kenechi Udeze and running back Mewelde Moore. Carey had the longest starting career, but Minnesota received two useful players from the exchange.
Minnesota moved down six spots in the third round of the 2004 draft, sending Baltimore pick No. 82 and receiving Nos. 88 and 155. The Ravens chose receiver Devard Darling, while the Vikings selected defensive lineman Darrion Scott and linebacker Rod Davis. Scott became a regular rotational defender, giving Minnesota the better overall return.
Minnesota moved up two spots in the 2004 second round for linebacker Dontarrious Thomas, sending New Orleans picks 50 and 151 for No. 48. Thomas became a useful multi-year Viking, but the Saints selected Devery Henderson at 50 and later used pick 151 in another trade that helped add 2005 second-round capital. Henderson’s long tenure and championship-era production give New Orleans the stronger return.
New Orleans acquired quarterback Todd Bouman from Minnesota in March 2003 for a sixth-round pick. Bouman served as veteran quarterback depth for the Saints. Minnesota used the 190th overall selection on linebacker Mike Nattiel, who became a multi-season Vikings contributor. The trade gave New Orleans experienced depth while Minnesota converted a reserve passer into a younger roster asset.
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.
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.
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.
Minnesota sent picks No. 86 and No. 119 to New England in the 2001 draft to move up to No. 69 for cornerback Eric Kelly. The Patriots selected cornerback Brock Williams and tight end Jabari Holloway. None became a major long-term starter, but New England’s two-player return gives the Patriots a narrow volume advantage.
Minnesota Vikings
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 sent veteran lineman Everett Lindsay to Baltimore during the 1999 draft and received the 185th selection, a sixth-round pick used on defensive lineman Talance Sawyer. Lindsay started all 16 games for the Ravens in 1999, while Sawyer developed into a rotational Vikings defender and recorded 11 career sacks. Both clubs obtained real, useful value, making an even B- result more fitting.
Minnesota moved up from No. 59 to No. 44 in the 1999 draft to select tight end/fullback Jim Kleinsasser, sending Pittsburgh the 59th, 73rd and 163rd selections. Kleinsasser became a durable 13-year Viking and appeared in 181 games, but Pittsburgh used No. 73 on linebacker Joey Porter, whose peak as an All-Pro pass rusher gives the Steelers the stronger return.
Minnesota traded Brad Johnson to Washington for the 11th and 73rd picks in the 1999 draft. The Vikings used No. 11 on Daunte Culpepper, who became a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback and threw for more than 24,000 career yards. Washington received a capable veteran who helped the 1999 team reach the playoffs, but Minnesota landed a younger franchise quarterback plus another premium asset.
Minnesota sent New England a 1999 third-round pick for cornerback Jimmy Hitchcock before the 1998 season. Hitchcock then started all 16 games for the 15-1 Vikings, intercepted seven passes and returned three for touchdowns. New England used the eventual No. 91 pick on Tony George, who played 31 NFL games with one start. Minnesota received far more immediate impact from the exchange.
Minnesota moved up from No. 112 and added No. 137 to obtain Arizona's No. 97 pick, selecting tight end Hunter Goodwin. Arizona used the two incoming choices on center Aaron Graham and tackle James Dexter. Goodwin became a long-tenured NFL blocking tight end, so Minnesota did receive value, but Graham and Dexter combined for substantially more starts and useful line play. Arizona's two-player return earns the narrow win.
Minnesota traded safety Vencie Glenn and a 1996 sixth-round pick to the Giants on April 23, 1995, receiving a 1995 sixth and a 1996 fifth. The Giants received 15 starts, five interceptions and a touchdown from Glenn in 1995. Minnesota's direct selections produced little Vikings value, giving New York the clear win.
Minnesota moved up ten spots in the fourth round of the 1995 draft for quarterback Chad May, sending Denver picks 121 and 196. May never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Denver used No. 196 on Terrell Davis, who became a league MVP, Super Bowl MVP, two-time champion and Hall of Fame running back. The Broncos also received the 121st pick. Few draft trades have produced a wider gap between the player targeted and the player surrendered.
Minnesota traded Chris Doleman and the 45th pick to Atlanta for the 40th selection plus Atlanta's 1995 first-rounder. The Vikings used their return on Derrick Alexander and David Palmer, both useful multi-year contributors. Atlanta received the most accomplished player in Doleman and also selected Bert Emanuel, who became a productive receiver for the Falcons.
Minnesota moved down three spots in the second round of the 1994 draft, sending the Raiders pick No. 52 and receiving Nos. 55 and 125. The Raiders selected James Folston; the Vikings chose Fernando Smith and Mike Wells. Smith became a useful defensive lineman, and the extra fourth-rounder gives Minnesota the better aggregate return.
Minnesota acquired Warren Moon for a 1994 fourth-round pick and a 1995 third-round pick, a modest price for a proven Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback. Moon immediately gave the Vikings two high-level seasons, set franchise passing records, and reached the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995. For a team built to contend, converting two mid-round selections into that level of quarterback play was an excellent short-term use of draft capital.
Minnesota acquired tight end Adrian Cooper from Pittsburgh for third- and sixth-round picks in 1994. Cooper contributed for one season, but Pittsburgh used the third-rounder on Jason Gildon, who became a three-time Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro and one of the most prolific pass rushers in Steelers history. That long-term defensive return gives Pittsburgh a decisive edge.
Minnesota acquired running back Barry Word from Kansas City before the 1993 opener after losing Terry Allen for the season. Word played 13 games with eight starts, rushing for 458 yards and two touchdowns. Kansas City received a 1994 fifth-round pick and used it on James Burton, who never appeared in a regular-season game for the Chiefs.
Minnesota sent Hall of Fame left tackle Gary Zimmerman to Denver in 1993 and received Vance Johnson plus Denver's 1994 first- and sixth-round selections and a 1995 second-rounder. DeWayne Washington and Orlando Thomas became long-term Vikings defensive backs, while Andrew Jordan also came from the package. Zimmerman nevertheless became a championship cornerstone for Denver during the club's rise to consecutive Super Bowl titles.
Washington acquired Rich Gannon from Minnesota in August 1993 for conditional draft compensation that ultimately included the 1994 fifth-round pick used on Shelly Hammonds. Gannon started only four games for Washington and missed the following season with a shoulder injury. Minnesota's pick produced little, so Washington still won the immediate exchange, although Gannon's later MVP years came elsewhere and should not inflate this return.
Minnesota acquired running back Keith Henderson from San Francisco on September 16, 1992, for a 1993 eighth-round pick. Henderson's NFL career effectively ended that season, limiting the Vikings' return. The 49ers used pick No. 219 on quarterback Elvis Grbac, who became a useful backup behind Steve Young and made starts for San Francisco. That direct quarterback depth gives the 49ers a clear win.
Minnesota acquired defensive end George Hinkle and wide receiver Joe Johnson from Washington for a conditional 1993 sixth-round pick. The condition did not elevate the selection, and Washington used No. 160 on tight end Frank Wycheck. Johnson contributed 21 catches for 211 yards in 1992, while Hinkle offered short-term depth. Wycheck's greatest years came after Washington, but becoming a long NFL starter gives the pick the stronger hindsight value.
Minnesota sent former Defensive Player of the Year Keith Millard to Seattle and received the 39th pick in 1992 plus a 1993 third-rounder. The Vikings used those selections on Robert Harris and John Gerak. Millard appeared in only two games for Seattle, while Minnesota converted the return into two players who supplied multiple seasons of roster value.
Minnesota acquired Tampa Bay's 1992 ninth-round pick for defensive back Jimmy Williams and used No. 227 on quarterback Brad Johnson. Williams gave the Buccaneers useful short-term defensive work, but Johnson became a significant Vikings quarterback and later remained a valuable NFL asset. Minnesota's direct years of starting quarterback play from such a low-cost selection make this a decisive Vikings win.
Minnesota traded pick No. 146 to the Raiders during the 1991 draft and received Nos. 163 and 180. The Vikings selected defensive backs Todd Scott and Tripp Welborne, while the Raiders used No. 146 on defensive lineman Nolan Harrison. Scott and Harrison each became legitimate NFL contributors, leaving the exchange balanced despite different career paths.
Minnesota Vikings
The Herschel Walker trade became the NFL's most famous franchise-altering deal. Minnesota acquired the star running back, but Dallas turned the return into the foundation of a dynasty. The Vikings chased immediate contention. The Cowboys collected the assets that helped reshape their future, making this the benchmark for every blockbuster trade that followed. The deal remains the gold standard for a franchise-altering trade win.
Minnesota acquired the 1989 No. 335 pick from the Raiders and selected Everett Ross, sending a future 1990 eleventh-rounder in return. That future choice became No. 298, which the Raiders later included in a draft-day trade with Chicago and which the Bears used on Roman Matusz. Ross did not play an NFL regular-season game, and the Raiders' asset produced only minor trade currency, making the exchange effectively even.
Minnesota exchanged the 24th pick in the 1989 draft for linebacker Mike Merriweather after the three-time Pro Bowler had sat out the entire 1988 season in Pittsburgh. The gamble worked: Merriweather immediately returned to the field, started every game he played during four seasons with the Vikings, and supplied far more sustained value than the late first-round pick Minnesota surrendered.
Minnesota exchanged a future 1989 ninth-round pick for New England's 1988 eleventh-round selection, moving into the current draft to take Norman Floyd at No. 296. The Patriots later held No. 247 in 1989, used on Curtis Wilson. Neither player appeared in an NFL regular-season game. With no meaningful on-field return on either side, the trade finished almost exactly where its low draft cost suggested: even.
Minnesota traded the No. 45 pick in the 1988 draft to Denver for picks No. 54, No. 108 and No. 164. The Vikings selected Brad Edwards, Todd Kalis and Derrick White, with Kalis developing into a long-term Minnesota offensive lineman. Denver used No. 45 on tackle Gerald Perry, who also became a contributor, but Minnesota's three-player return created the broader franchise value.
Minnesota acquired veteran guard Greg Koch from Miami on October 20, 1987, for sixth- and tenth-round selections in the next two drafts. Koch immediately started six games for a Vikings team that reached the NFC Championship Game. Miami used the picks on George Cooper and Greg Ross, neither of whom produced a regular-season NFL career. Minnesota received timely line help at a very small cost and won the exchange.
Minnesota acquired center Chris Foote from the Giants on May 19, 1987, for a conditional 1988 draft choice. Minnesota team material places the consideration in the 12th round, while surviving draft-transfer records disagree on whether No. 323 Brendan McCormack can be assigned exclusively to this deal. Foote then played four seasons and more than 50 games for the Vikings, giving Minnesota the stronger realized return.
Minnesota acquired New England's rights to Rich Gannon shortly after the 1987 draft and ultimately sent fourth- and eleventh-round choices in 1988. Gannon spent six seasons with the Vikings and became a multi-year starter, giving Minnesota useful quarterback value long before his later MVP peak elsewhere. That production outweighs the modest return New England realized from the two selections.
Miami moved down two spots in the first round of the 1987 draft, sending No. 14 to Minnesota for No. 16 and a fifth-round choice. The Dolphins turned those picks into defensive end John Bosa and receiver Kitrick Taylor. Bosa supplied 7 sacks in 31 NFL games, while Taylor had a modest pro career, leaving Miami with useful but limited value from the extra capital.
Minnesota acquired veteran safety Steve Freeman from Buffalo on March 11, 1987 for past considerations whose details were not identified in the surviving transaction record. Freeman appeared in 12 games for the Vikings that season and recorded 12 combined tackles, providing short-term veteran depth. Because Buffalo's consideration is not quantified, the modest known return supports a cautious Even Trade rather than a forced winner.
Minnesota acquired veteran safety John Harris from Seattle on September 2, 1986 for a 1987 seventh-round pick that became No. 184, Roland Barbay. Harris immediately became a Vikings starter and intercepted nine passes over his three Minnesota seasons while making 37 starts. Converting a late-round choice into that much secondary experience and production gave Minnesota the stronger side of the trade.
Minnesota traded wide receiver Mike Jones to New Orleans on September 2, 1986 for running back Wayne Wilson. Wilson had been productive earlier in his career, but his Minnesota stay produced only eight carries for 14 yards in seven games. The Vikings gained veteran depth, yet the return was brief and modest, leaving Minnesota with little direct football value from the exchange.
San Diego moved from No. 14 to No. 8 in the 1986 draft and selected Leslie O'Neal, while also receiving No. 66. O'Neal became the defining asset: 132.5 career sacks and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Minnesota took Gerald Robinson at No. 14 and obtained No. 44, later used in the trade for Gary Zimmerman's rights, giving the Vikings meaningful value despite losing the direct comparison.
Minnesota acquired the NFL rights to Gary Zimmerman from New York for two 1986 second-round picks, Nos. 44 and 53. The Giants used those choices on Mark Collins and Greg Lasker, receiving useful value from Collins in particular. Zimmerman became a perennial All-Pro tackle and eventual Hall of Famer, making the Vikings' willingness to spend two second-rounders one of the strongest offensive-line investments of the era.
Minnesota acquired Miami's NFL rights to Anthony Carter in August 1985, sending linebacker Robin Sendlein and a 1986 second-round pick that later became Kevin Murphy after further movement. Carter immediately became a premier Vikings receiver and stayed through 1993, producing 7,635 receiving yards for Minnesota. That sustained star-level return makes this a decisive Vikings victory.
Minnesota acquired Chuck Muncie from San Diego on July 19, 1985 for one conditional 1986 sixth-round pick tied to Muncie remaining with the Vikings through the season. Muncie retired before playing a regular-season game for Minnesota, so the condition was not met and the pick was not exercised. Neither team ultimately received a realized football asset from the transaction.
Minnesota traded the second pick in the 1985 draft to Atlanta for selections No. 4 and No. 60. The Falcons used No. 2 on elite guard Bill Fralic, while the Vikings selected Chris Doleman at No. 4 and Tim Meamber at No. 60. Fralic became an outstanding lineman, but Doleman's Hall of Fame pass-rushing career gives Minnesota the slight edge in a trade that benefited both teams.
Minnesota received the 30th pick in the 1985 draft after agreeing not to select Ray Childress at No. 2 or trade that choice to a team that intended to take him. The Vikings used No. 30 on cornerback Issiac Holt, who became a useful starter and later part of the Herschel Walker package. Houston preserved access to Childress, who became a franchise defensive cornerstone.
Minnesota acquired Houston’s No. 2 overall pick on April 9, 1985 for the Vikings’ No. 3 and No. 30 selections. The Vikings later moved No. 2 to Atlanta and came away with No. 4 Chris Doleman plus No. 60 Tim Meamber. That chain gave Minnesota a Hall of Fame pass rusher, making the acquired No. 2 choice enormously valuable even though Minnesota did not make the selection itself.
Minnesota sent veteran linebacker Brad Van Pelt to the Raiders on October 9, 1984 and received a 1985 sixth-round pick plus a 1986 second-round pick. Van Pelt gave Los Angeles two useful seasons, but Minnesota drafted Tim Newton with the sixth and later used the second-round asset in the Gary Zimmerman rights deal, creating the stronger long-term return.
Minnesota sent quarterback Steve Dils to the Rams in September 1984 for a 1985 fourth-round pick, No. 106, used on Kyle Morrell. Dils appeared in 52 games for Los Angeles from 1984 through 1987 and made nine starts, while Morrell played only five NFL games with one start for Minnesota. The Rams received the more useful and durable return.
Minnesota traded safety John Turner to San Diego on August 10, 1984, for compensation that ultimately converted to the Chargers’ 1985 third-round pick, No. 66. The Vikings used it on Tim Long. Turner spent one season with the Chargers and returned to Minnesota in 1985, so the Vikings gained the draft asset without permanently losing the veteran defensive back.
Minnesota acquired Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud from Green Bay on July 17, 1984 for a 1985 seventh-round pick. Stenerud immediately made 20 of 23 field-goal attempts in 1984 and handled the Vikings’ kicking job for two seasons. Green Bay used the seventh-round selection on Eric Wilson, who did not create comparable NFL value. Minnesota received the more useful realized return.
Minnesota traded running back Tony Galbreath to New York for linebacker Brad Van Pelt on July 12, 1984. Van Pelt never reported to Vikings camp and did not play a regular-season game for Minnesota. Galbreath, by contrast, spent four seasons with the Giants, caught 126 passes in that span and was part of the 1986 Super Bowl championship team, making New York the clear winner.
Minnesota acquired lineman Jerry Baker from Denver on July 3, 1984 for a future draft choice whose round and year remain unidentified. Baker had appeared in five games without a start for Denver in 1983 and did not record a regular-season appearance for Minnesota. The Vikings therefore received no realized regular-season production from the player they acquired.
Minnesota sent pick No. 127 to the Los Angeles Raiders during the 1984 draft and received Nos. 140, 196 and 308. The Vikings used No. 140 on Allen Rice, who spent seven seasons in Minnesota, appeared in 89 games and scored 19 touchdowns for the club. The Raiders selected Andy Parker at No. 127, but his limited offensive production left Minnesota with the stronger realized return.
Minnesota traded Hall of Fame tackle Ron Yary to the Rams late in the 1982 preseason for a 1983 tenth-round pick. Yary appeared in eight games for Los Angeles without a start before retiring. Minnesota used No. 255 on defensive back Melvin Brown, who did not become a meaningful NFL contributor. The Rams received the only measurable professional production from the exchange.
Minnesota traded its 1983 second-round pick to Philadelphia for defensive tackle Charlie Johnson in August 1982. Johnson became an immediate Vikings starter, making 38 starts across three seasons and recording six sacks in the portion of his career with modern sack data. Philadelphia used No. 46 on linebacker Jody Schulz, who played 44 games for the Eagles but had a much smaller defensive role. Minnesota received the stronger team-specific value.
Minnesota sent veteran linebacker Jeff Siemon to San Diego on May 28, 1982 for a 1983 draft choice. Chargers trade histories disagree on the round, so the exact selection should not be overstated. Siemon retired during Chargers camp, was released, then returned to Minnesota and played nine games in 1982, leaving an unusual transaction with limited lasting separation.
Minnesota acquired Tony Galbreath from New Orleans on August 31, 1981 for the 1982 third-round pick that became Eugene Goodlow. Galbreath gave the Vikings three useful seasons, totaling 788 rushing yards and 645 receiving yards while starting 11 games. Goodlow later became a productive Saints receiver with 1,677 yards and 10 touchdowns. Both teams turned the exchange into legitimate multi-year production.
Minnesota traded the 18th pick in the 1981 draft to Baltimore for two second-rounders and a fifth-rounder, selecting Mardye McDole, Jarvis Redwine, and Wendell Ray. The quantity did not translate into comparable NFL value. Baltimore used No. 18 on Donnell Thompson, who became an 11-year Colt, started 143 games, and provided the durable return that decides the trade.
Miami traded Hall of Fame center Jim Langer to Minnesota on September 24, 1980 for 1981 and 1982 draft picks that became Fulton Walker and Bob Nelson. Walker developed into an excellent Dolphins return specialist and later scored a 98-yard kickoff-return touchdown in Super Bowl XVII. Nelson did not stick in Miami, but Walker's value gives the Dolphins a respectable return despite surrendering a legendary veteran.
Minnesota acquired offensive lineman Nick Bebout from Seattle on September 1, 1980 for a 1981 ninth-round pick, correctly identified as No. 236, which Seattle used on Jim Whatley. Bebout appeared in only one game for the Vikings before being released later that month, while Whatley did not develop into a meaningful NFL contributor. Neither side produced durable value from the exchange.
The June 1980 Steve Riley entry reflects the resolution of an earlier Vikings-Saints transaction after Riley failed New Orleans' physical and remained with Minnesota. The Saints ultimately received 1981 third- and fifth-round selections, Nos. 71 and 128, while Minnesota retained Riley, who continued as a regular offensive tackle for several seasons. Both sides obtained real value, but the two future selections give New Orleans the stronger return and preserve a narrow Saints win.
Minnesota agreed to send tackle Steve Riley to New Orleans on April 18, 1980 for third- and fifth-round picks used on Brent Boyd and Paul Jones. Riley later failed the Saints' physical, and the transaction was unwound with Minnesota sending 1981 third- and fifth-round selections to New Orleans while retaining Riley. Boyd became a useful Vikings lineman, and Riley continued starting in Minnesota, giving the Vikings the stronger overall chain.
Minnesota sent veteran running back Chuck Foreman to New England in April 1980 for a conditional 1981 third-round pick. The condition produced No. 74, which the Vikings used on tackle Tim Irwin. Irwin became a 14-year NFL lineman and longtime Minnesota starter, giving the Vikings exceptional lasting value from a player whose Patriots tenure was near the end of his career.
Minnesota moved up nine spots in the second round of the 1980 draft to select defensive back Willie Teal, sending San Francisco picks No. 39 and 65. Teal became a productive Vikings starter and intercepted 15 passes in his NFL career. The 49ers used No. 39 on Keena Turner, an 11-year cornerstone and four-time Super Bowl champion, making San Francisco’s return clearly superior.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota acquired defensive lineman Steve Niehaus from Seattle and received only a brief contribution. Niehaus appeared in three games for the Vikings in 1979 and made no starts. Seattle received veteran defensive end Carl Eller plus Minnesota's 1980 eighth-round selection, which became Vic Minor. The Seahawks therefore collected both a full season from Eller and another NFL player from the pick.
Minnesota acquired running back Jerry Latin from the Los Angeles Rams on June 13, 1979 for an undisclosed draft choice. Contemporary transaction reporting confirms the player-for-pick structure. Latin never appeared in a Vikings regular-season game and was waived on August 16, so Minnesota received no regular-season production from the acquisition.
Minnesota traded punter Neil Clabo to New England on August 23, 1978 for a conditional draft choice. The Patriots' own 1979 media guide confirms the transaction and compensation type. Clabo never appeared in a New England regular-season game; NFL and Pro Football Reference records show his entire 41-game NFL career came with Minnesota from 1975 through 1977.
Minnesota acquired Frank Myers from the Colts in August 1978 for a 1979 eighth-round pick, No. 207. The Colts used that selection on defensive back Nesby Glasgow, who went on to a 14-season NFL career with 205 games, 145 starts, and 15 interceptions. Myers did not create comparable Minnesota value, so the late-round pick became a decisive long-term win for the Colts.
San Diego acquired veteran guard Ed White for Rickey Young and received an exceptional long-term starter for the Air Coryell era. White remained a fixture on the Chargers’ offensive line for eight seasons and earned Pro Bowl recognition. The Chargers get the slight edge, but Minnesota’s return was far stronger than a losing-side grade normally suggests.
Minnesota acquired veteran tight end Bob Tucker from New York on October 25, 1977, for its 1978 fifth-round selection, No. 132, which became Jim Krahl. Tucker then spent parts of four seasons with the Vikings and made 44 starts, including all 16 games in 1978. Krahl did not produce a comparable NFL career, so Minnesota converted a mid-round pick into clearly superior veteran value.
Seattle sent Minnesota the 1978 eighth-round pick used on Mike Wood and received safety Autry Beamon plus linebacker Amos Martin. Beamon immediately became the prize, appearing in 45 Seahawks games with 39 starts and 11 interceptions from 1977 through 1979. Wood gave Minnesota limited direct value, so Seattle's three-year defensive return clearly wins the exchange.
Minnesota acquired safety Phil Wise from the Jets for two future selections, a 1978 eighth-round pick and a 1979 tenth-round pick. Wise played 30 games for the Vikings and started all 16 games in 1978. The Jets used the picks on Roy Eppes and Ed McGlasson; Eppes never played in the NFL and McGlasson appeared in only seven Jets games. Minnesota received the stronger return.
Minnesota acquired veteran safety Bill Bradley from Philadelphia for the 1978 seventh-round pick used on Greg Marshall. Bradley did not become a lasting Vikings contributor and finished 1977 with St. Louis, appearing in four games. Marshall, meanwhile, was drafted No. 186 by Philadelphia but played only two NFL games, both for Baltimore. Neither acquiring club realized meaningful direct value.
Minnesota acquired defensive back Joe Blahak from New England for cash on March 11, 1977. Blahak appeared in 12 games for the Vikings that season, giving Minnesota a modest amount of usable depth. With no player or draft asset heading back to New England, the Vikings earned the slightly better result.
Minnesota acquired running back Sammy Johnson from San Francisco for wide receiver Jim Lash during the 1976 season. Johnson stayed with the Vikings longer than Lash remained with the 49ers, but his offensive production was modest. Minnesota gained useful depth without finding a major difference-maker, leaving the exchange close to balanced.
Minnesota acquired Ahmad Rashad from Seattle for a 1977 fourth-round pick and found an ideal long-term receiving partner for Fran Tarkenton and the Vikings offense. Rashad spent seven seasons in Minnesota, caught 400 passes for 5,489 yards and earned four consecutive Pro Bowl selections, making the modest acquisition cost an extraordinary bargain.
Minnesota acquired defensive backs Windlan Hall and Nate Allen from San Francisco for offensive lineman Steve Lawson and a 1978 sixth-round choice. Allen immediately started 11 games and intercepted three passes for the Vikings in 1976. That useful secondary return gave Minnesota real value without producing a decisive advantage.
Cincinnati sent Minnesota the rights to Orlando Nelson for a 1977 seventh-round choice. The Bengals used the pick at No. 194 on tight end Jim Corbett, who went on to appear in 44 NFL games and catch 25 passes. That was modest production, but it was still a concrete return from a low-cost transaction and gives Cincinnati the edge.
Minnesota acquired center Doug Dumler from New England for a 1976 eighth-round pick and a 1977 sixth-round pick. Dumler appeared in every regular-season game for the Vikings across 1976 and 1977, providing two seasons of useful line depth. New England used the first pick on Stu Betts and later traded the second for Marlin Briscoe. The Patriots found some secondary value, but Minnesota received the steadier direct return.
Minnesota traded veteran Bob Stein to New Orleans on April 7, 1976 for a 1977 draft choice. Transaction histories establish the player and future pick but do not identify the round or eventual selection. Stein was nearing the end of a career that included Kansas City and Los Angeles before Minnesota, so the deal reads as a modest veteran-for-future-value exchange.
Atlanta acquired veteran running back Oscar Reed from Minnesota for a 1976 fifth-round choice. Reed played only seven games for the Falcons, rushing 14 times for 40 yards. Minnesota used the pick on defensive back Steve Wagner but released him before the 1976 season; his later 61-game NFL career came with Green Bay and Philadelphia. Neither club realized lasting value.
Baltimore sent rookie receiver Dave Hazel to Minnesota in 1975 for a 1976 eighth-round draft choice. Colts historical material places the move on July 29, while Hazel had entered the league as Baltimore's 11th-round selection earlier that year. The exact eighth-round pick is not identified, and Hazel did not develop into a notable NFL contributor, leaving a low-impact exchange.
Minnesota acquired offensive lineman Andy Maurer and received useful immediate line help. New Orleans received the 1975 third-round pick used on defensive end Elois Grooms, who played 99 games for the Saints and recorded 42.5 sacks for the franchise. Maurer made the Vikings' side respectable, but Grooms became a far more durable and productive asset in New Orleans. The third-round pick produced the best player value in the exchange.
Detroit acquired Charlie West from Minnesota on September 10, 1974, for a 1975 third-round selection that ultimately became No. 63. West became a regular Lions starter through 1977. Minnesota later traded the No. 63 choice to New Orleans for Andy Maurer, so Elois Grooms' selection belongs to the Saints' later use of the pick rather than directly to the Vikings.
Minnesota acquired linebacker Ron Porter from Philadelphia for a 1974 fifth-round selection that became pick No. 128. Porter appeared in 13 games for the Vikings in 1973 and provided one season of defensive depth without developing into a long-term starter. Philadelphia later moved the acquired selection onward rather than turning the slot directly into a lasting Eagles contributor.
Minnesota sent Clint Jones and Carl Gersbach to San Diego for 1974 second- and third-round selections. The Vikings used those picks on John Holland and Steve Craig, giving Minnesota two meaningful draft assets for veterans whose Chargers impact was limited. Neither drafted player became a star, but the two-pick return still gives the Vikings a clear, moderate advantage.
Kansas City traded linebacker Keith Best to Minnesota on August 29, 1973 for a draft choice. The player was Keith Best, while the exact round and selection remain unestablished. Best had appeared for Kansas City in 1972, but the available career history does not show a significant regular-season Minnesota return, keeping the verdict modest.
Minnesota traded veteran cornerback Charlie Stukes to the Rams on August 28, 1973, for a 1974 fifth-round selection, No. 128. Minnesota did not ultimately use the pick on Monroe Eley; the Vikings traded that choice to Philadelphia days later for linebacker Ron Porter. Stukes immediately became a two-year starter in Los Angeles.
Denver acquired wide receiver Gene Washington from Minnesota for Rod Sherman and the 1974 fifth-round pick used on Jim Ferguson. Washington played all 14 games for Denver in 1973 and scored three receiving touchdowns. Sherman did not play a regular-season game for Minnesota, and Ferguson never appeared in the NFL, giving the Broncos the better direct return.
Minnesota acquired guard Steve Lawson plus Cincinnati's 1975 fourth-round pick, while the Bengals received Minnesota's 1974 fourth- and 1975 third-round choices. Lawson became a multi-year Vikings lineman, but Cincinnati converted its picks into Richard Williams and linebacker Bo Harris. Both sides gained usable value, with the Bengals' two-pick return giving Cincinnati the narrow overall edge.
The Rams acquired Greg Slough from Minnesota on August 3, 1973 for a 1974 draft choice, only nine days after Minnesota had obtained him from Oakland. Historical player and transaction sources support the two distinct moves. Because the exact 1974 selection is not identified and Slough produced no major Rams career, neither side has a strong enough realized return for a decisive verdict.
Oakland received a draft choice for Greg Slough. The transaction record establishes that future asset, but the exact round, selection and downstream player remain unidentified. The Raiders successfully converted Slough into draft capital, yet the unresolved pick chain prevents assigning Oakland any specific later player value.
Minnesota acquired veteran cornerback Charlie Stukes from the Baltimore Colts on July 23, 1973, for a 1974 fifth-round pick that became No. 129 and Doug Nettles. Five weeks later, Minnesota traded Stukes to the Rams for pick No. 128. That quick resale effectively improved the Vikings’ draft position while Baltimore received a future multi-year defensive back.
Minnesota sent tight end Bob Brown to New Orleans in September 1972 for two future selections. The Vikings used the 1973 sixth-round pick on Doug Kingsriter and the 1974 fourth-round choice on Mike Townsend, but neither became a major long-term contributor. Brown played all 14 games for New Orleans in 1972 and remained with the Saints into 1973, giving them the stronger direct return.
Houston traded Sam Walton to Minnesota in July 1972 for a future 1973 draft choice. Historical transaction listings and contemporary reporting support the exchange, while the round and eventual selection remain unidentified. Walton gave Minnesota another veteran option entering Bud Grant's sixth season, but no clearly documented long-term Vikings impact or traceable Oilers draft payoff creates a decisive hindsight edge.
Minnesota acquired punter Mike Eischeid from Kansas City on May 25, 1972 for a 1973 fourth-round selection. Eischeid handled the Vikings' punting duties for three full seasons, including playoff runs in 1973 and 1974. Kansas City used pick No. 89 on John Lohmeyer, who played five Chiefs seasons and became a three-year special-teams captain.
Minnesota sent quarterback Gary Cuozzo to St. Louis in 1972 for John Gilliam plus 1973 second- and fourth-round choices. Gilliam immediately produced four strong Vikings seasons, the second-rounder became Jackie Wallace, and Minnesota later used the fourth-round asset to obtain punter Mike Eischeid. Cuozzo struggled in his lone Cardinals season. The volume and quality of Minnesota’s return make this a decisive Vikings win.
Minnesota sent linebacker Bill Cody to Philadelphia on March 4, 1972 for the Eagles’ 1973 tenth-round choice. Cody appeared in 11 games for Philadelphia that season. Minnesota used pick No. 236 on Tulane defensive back and punter Randy Lee, whose draft record shows no NFL regular-season production. The Eagles therefore receive a narrow edge from a modest exchange that produced limited value overall.
Minnesota reacquired Fran Tarkenton from the Giants for Norm Snead, Bob Grim, Vince Clements, a 1972 first-round pick, and a 1973 second-round pick that became Brad Van Pelt. New York received a real package, including a future five-time Pro Bowler. But Tarkenton stabilized Minnesota's offense and became the quarterback of the Vikings' Super Bowl-window years. That timing controlled the verdict.
Minnesota acquired tight end Bob Brown and cornerback Nate Wright from St. Louis for Mike McGill, Dale Hackbart and a future fourth-round choice. Wright became the decisive asset: he developed into a durable starter for Minnesota’s championship-era defenses, while Brown supplied short-term depth. The Cardinals received only modest playing value from McGill and Hackbart, leaving Minnesota with the stronger realized return.
Minnesota sent quarterback Bill Cappleman to Philadelphia in September 1971 for a 1973 fourth-round selection that became No. 80 overall. The Vikings used that pick on quarterback Mike Wells, who did not develop into a significant NFL contributor for Minnesota. The transaction gave the Vikings a future draft opportunity, but the eventual on-field return from that selection remained minimal.
Minnesota acquired defensive lineman Doug Sutherland from New Orleans for running back Bill Harris in August 1971. The transaction involved one Harris, not two duplicate player entries. Sutherland went on to play 138 regular-season games for Minnesota, start 90 and appear in three Super Bowls. Harris played only one game for New Orleans and gained one rushing yard, producing an overwhelming Vikings advantage.
Minnesota acquired Mike LaHood from the St. Louis Cardinals in August 1971 and sent linebacker Jim Hargrove the other way. LaHood did not establish meaningful regular-season value for the Vikings, while Hargrove appeared for St. Louis in both 1971 and 1972. The Cardinals received the more useful player from the straight swap, earning a modest but clear win.
Minnesota acquired receiver Al Denson from Denver for defensive back John Charles and a 1972 fourth-round pick that became No. 102 and linebacker Tom Graham. Denson's Vikings stay was brief, while Graham developed into a multi-season Denver starter after arriving through the exchanged pick. With Charles also included in the package, the Broncos turned one veteran into substantially more lasting value and win the deal.
Minnesota acquired Bill Cody from New Orleans for an undisclosed conditional future draft choice. Cody did not become a meaningful regular-season contributor for the Vikings before moving on, so Minnesota received little lasting value from the player. The Saints' conditional return cannot be tied confidently to a productive selection, leaving neither club with enough verified value to separate itself from the other.
Green Bay reacquired the rights to quarterback Zeke Bratkowski from Minnesota in January 1971 and sent the Vikings a 1972 third-round pick, No. 59. Bratkowski returned for six games with the Packers in 1971, while Minnesota used the acquired choice on Bart Buetow. The pick carried more nominal value, but neither return became a major long-term prize, leaving the trade close to even.
Minnesota acquired veteran quarterback Norm Snead from Philadelphia for tackle Steve Smith and three draft choices: a 1971 second, 1971 sixth and 1972 third. Snead started only two games for the Vikings before becoming part of the package that brought Fran Tarkenton back to Minnesota. Philadelphia received several years of Smith plus multiple selections, giving the Eagles the stronger direct return despite Minnesota later recycling Snead productively.
Minnesota acquired defensive back Ted Provost from the Los Angeles Rams in September 1970, and the Rams received Minnesota's 1972 fifth-round selection, No. 128, tied in the draft record to Greg Kucera. Provost appeared in only seven games for the Vikings without a start, while the pick produced no clear long-term Rams advantage. The modest returns fit an even result.
Minnesota acquired quarterback Kent Nix from Pittsburgh on September 2, 1970 for a 1971 fifth-round selection. Nix never appeared in a regular-season game for the Vikings and was released before later joining Chicago. Pittsburgh used the acquired pick on Fred Brister at No. 128, but Brister also never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, leaving both returns effectively empty.
Minnesota acquired veteran cornerback Dick Westmoreland from Miami in May 1970 for guard Bookie Bolin. Westmoreland had been a productive Dolphins defender, but Minnesota released him before the regular season. Bolin’s NFL career had effectively ended after the 1969 season, so Miami also received no on-field return. With neither incoming player producing regular-season value for his new club, the exchange finishes essentially even.
Minnesota Vikings
St. Louis acquired veteran King Hill from Minnesota for cash on September 10, 1969. Hill was not needed as a starting quarterback, but he appeared in all 14 Cardinals games and became the club’s primary punter, recording 73 punts for 2,746 yards and a 37.6-yard average. For a cash-only acquisition, that immediate special-teams role supplied useful value and gives the Cardinals a modest edge.
Minnesota acquired quarterback John Huarte and kicker Rich Duncan from Philadelphia on September 3, 1969, for a future draft choice whose exact selection is not identified in the surviving transaction record used here. Contemporary reporting confirms the two-player package for a pick. Huarte and Duncan provided immediate depth to a Vikings team headed toward Super Bowl IV, giving Minnesota a modest practical edge despite limited long-term production.
Minnesota acquired Chuck Logan from St. Louis for a high draft choice late in the 1969 preseason. Transaction history shows Logan joining the Vikings on August 27 and being released on October 7, with no meaningful Minnesota regular-season contribution established. Although the exact draft selection St. Louis received is not identified, surrendering high draft value for such a brief return tilts the deal toward the Cardinals.
Atlanta acquired rookie defensive back Tom McCauley from Minnesota for rookie guard Jon Sandstrom on August 27, 1969. McCauley made the Falcons and played 32 games over three seasons, starting 16, intercepting two passes, and returning a punt for a touchdown in 1970. Sandstrom did not play an NFL regular-season game for Minnesota and later continued his career in Canada. Atlanta received the only meaningful NFL production.
Atlanta sent running back Billy Harris to Minnesota for a draft choice whose exact selection remains unidentified. Harris appeared in 13 games for the Vikings in 1969 but carried only six times for 13 yards and caught two passes for 13 more. Minnesota received some roster depth, but the small offensive contribution does not create meaningful separation from Atlanta's unresolved draft asset.
Minnesota acquired wide receiver Ken Hebert from Pittsburgh for rookie running back Corny Davis on August 6, 1969. Hebert had been a Steelers third-round pick the year before, but the Vikings released him later that month and he never played a regular-season game for Minnesota. Davis likewise did not become a regular-season contributor for Pittsburgh. With neither incoming player producing game value for his new club, the swap finishes even.
Minnesota acquired kicking specialist Don Martin from the Los Angeles Rams on August 4, 1969 for a conditional draft choice. Contemporary reporting establishes that structure, while the condition, draft round, selection and whether the choice ultimately conveyed are not identified. With no securely documented long-term Minnesota impact or Rams draft payoff, the exchange is best treated as a modest preseason gamble.
Minnesota acquired tight end Tony Jeter from Pittsburgh on July 20, 1969, for the 1970 sixth-round selection that became Clarence Kegler. Contemporary reporting and Vikings draft history both identify the future pick, while the draft history pins it to No. 155 overall. Jeter provided only limited Vikings impact, and Kegler did not create a major Steelers payoff, leaving the exchange close to neutral.
Baltimore traded defensive back Jim Dillard to Minnesota in June 1969 for a 1970 sixth-round draft choice. Colts historical material supports the round-level compensation, while the exact selection should not be overstated. Dillard joined a Vikings team that would reach Super Bowl IV, but his Minnesota tenure was brief, and the Colts' later pick outcome is not securely traceable.
Atlanta acquired linebacker Don Hansen from Minnesota for a draft choice in April 1969. Hansen became a seven-season Falcons regular, appearing in 95 games with 94 starts and recording 10 interceptions from 1969 through 1975. The exact selection sent to Minnesota has not been identified, so the Vikings' downstream return cannot be measured completely, while Hansen's long starting run is firmly documented.
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 quarterback-punter King Hill from Philadelphia for a 1969 third-round pick. The Eagles used No. 69 on Bill Bradley, who became a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro and the first player in NFL history to lead the league in interceptions in consecutive seasons. Hill's Vikings stay was brief, making Philadelphia's return dramatically more valuable.
Atlanta acquired Bob Berry from Minnesota for cash in a late-preseason 1968 transaction. The available transaction record establishes the player-for-cash exchange but does not provide a secure downstream asset trail that creates a substantial long-term difference. No additional player or draft selection is tied to the documented package, leaving the football value limited on both sides.
Minnesota acquired linebacker Wally Hilgenberg from Pittsburgh in September 1968 for cash. Hilgenberg spent 12 seasons with the Vikings, started 117 regular-season games and became a core member of four Super Bowl teams. The Steelers' side was cash rather than a player or draft asset, while Minnesota received a durable defensive contributor whose long tenure became the transaction's defining football value.
Minnesota sold rookie tight end Mike Donohoe to Atlanta on September 3, 1968, after drafting him in the ninth round that spring. Donohoe immediately made the Falcons' roster, played all 14 games as a rookie and remained with Atlanta for three seasons. The cash return gave Minnesota something for a player it did not keep, but Atlanta obtained several years of useful depth and wins the exchange.
Detroit received an unidentified draft pick from Minnesota for John Henderson. Because the surviving record does not securely identify the selection or its downstream result, the Lions cannot be credited with speculative draft value. Henderson remained with the Vikings through 1972 and produced strong seasons in 1969 and 1970, giving Minnesota the clearest documented return and the stronger side of the trade.
Atlanta received an unidentified 1969 draft choice in the August 1968 transaction that sent Bucky Pope to Minnesota. Player transaction records show the move was voided one week later, so the exchange did not produce a lasting Vikings tenure, and the exact Falcons selection cannot be traced securely. With the deal effectively undone and no reliable downstream advantage established, Atlanta does not have enough documented value to separate from Minnesota.
Minnesota traded punter Bobby Walden to Pittsburgh for a 1969 fifth-round pick that became Mike O'Shea. Walden immediately handled the Steelers' punting job, made the Pro Bowl in 1969 and remained in Pittsburgh through 1977, including the franchise's first two Super Bowl championship seasons. O'Shea was released by Minnesota before playing an NFL game. Pittsburgh turned a fifth-rounder into a decade-long specialist and wins decisively.
Atlanta acquired John Pentecost and Jim Overman from Minnesota for a draft choice whose exact selection remains unidentified in the surviving record. The Falcons received two players, but the available history does not establish a major long-term contribution from either one. Because the downstream Minnesota pick also cannot be tied securely to a specific player, the documented value remains too uncertain and too close to separate the teams.
Minnesota acquired safety Paul Krause from Washington for Marlin McKeever and a seventh-round pick, one of the defining trades in Vikings history. Krause played 12 seasons in Minnesota, started on all four Vikings Super Bowl teams and retired as the NFL's career interceptions leader with 81, a record he still holds. Washington received legitimate assets, but nothing close to the Hall of Fame value Minnesota captured.
Minnesota received Tom Hall, also known as Tom Hall Francis, from New Orleans in exchange for Archie Sutton during the 1968 football year. Hall immediately gave the Vikings usable receiving production, starting 13 games and catching 19 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown. The surviving record supports that Minnesota contribution clearly, while the downstream value of New Orleans' return is less complete.
Minnesota acquired Detroit's 1968 17th-round choice, No. 445 Bill Hull, while the Lions received Minnesota's 1969 16th-rounder, No. 407 John Stahl. Team draft histories and the draft-pick transaction records align on the exchange. Neither selection produced an NFL contributor, so the trade amounted to a swap of very late lottery tickets with no meaningful separation in eventual value.
Atlanta acquired quarterback Ron Vander Kelen from Minnesota during the 1968 draft for its 1968 seventh-round pick and a 1969 draft choice. Vander Kelen never appeared in a regular-season game for the Falcons and moved to Calgary in the CFL later that year.
Minnesota traded quarterback Ron Vander Kelen to Atlanta on January 30, 1968 for the Falcons' 1968 seventh-round pick and 1969 fifth-round pick. Those selections became running back Oscar Reed at No. 167 and guard Jim Barnes at No. 106. Barnes never played an NFL regular-season game, but Reed spent seven seasons with Minnesota, appearing in 79 games with 34 starts and producing 2,644 yards from scrimmage and 11 offensive touchdowns.
Atlanta acquired quarterback Ron VanderKelen from Minnesota for two future draft choices. VanderKelen had been a reserve for the Vikings, and Atlanta did not receive a long-term return that matched the value Minnesota created from the picks. The Vikings used the 1968 seventh-round selection on Oscar Reed and the 1969 fifth-round selection on Jim Barnes, turning one reserve quarterback into two roster opportunities.
Minnesota acquired quarterback Gary Cuozzo from New Orleans for the Vikings' first-round picks in 1968 and 1969. Those selections became Kevin Hardy at No. 7 and John Shinners at No. 17. Cuozzo provided Minnesota quarterback play but never became a long-term answer, while New Orleans controlled two consecutive premium draft assets.
Atlanta sent Billy Martin to Minnesota on January 24, 1968, for defensive lineman Jerry Shay. Martin gave the Vikings one season, appearing in all 14 games with 10 catches, 101 receiving yards, one touchdown, and regular punting work. Shay became an immediate Atlanta starter and opened 28 games across 1968 and 1969, giving the Falcons the better long-term return.
Minnesota acquired veteran defensive back Brady Keys from Pittsburgh for its 1968 third-round pick, No. 61. Keys provided the Vikings with short-term help, but his stay did not produce the same lasting value Pittsburgh received from the draft asset. The Steelers used the selection on Jon Henderson, who contributed across multiple NFL seasons after entering the league.
Minnesota acquired John Pentecost from San Francisco for a draft choice whose exact selection remains unidentified. The surviving record does not show a major long-term contribution from Pentecost or a securely traceable downstream payoff from the pick. With neither side producing a documented advantage large enough to separate the exchange, Minnesota's return fits the same modest range as San Francisco's.
Dallas received an undisclosed high draft choice when Minnesota acquired Jim Colvin, also listed as Rocky Colvin. Colvin spent part of the Vikings' 1967 preseason with the club but was returned to Dallas after a knee injury prevented him from playing. Because the attempted acquisition produced no regular-season value and the exact pick cannot be traced securely, the documented results do not establish a clear Dallas advantage.
Minnesota acquired the rights to Bob Breitenstein from Washington in 1967 and sent back a 1968 fifth-round pick, No. 117. Breitenstein played 11 games with six starts for the Vikings, but Washington used the pick on Mike Bragg, who became the franchise's long-term punter. Bragg's 12 seasons in Washington and 172 games make this a clear Washington win.
Dallas acquired Lance Rentzel from Minnesota for the 1968 third-round pick that became No. 76. Rentzel developed into a major Cowboys deep threat, topping 950 receiving yards in both 1968 and 1969 and catching 12 touchdowns in 1969. Minnesota used the pick on linebacker Mike McGill, but his return did not approach Rentzel's sustained production, giving Dallas the clear advantage.
Minnesota sent Tommy Mason, Hal Bedsole and its 1967 second-round pick to Los Angeles for Marlin McKeever and the Rams' first-round choice. The Vikings used No. 15 on Alan Page, who became an NFL MVP, Hall of Famer and centerpiece of the Purple People Eaters. McKeever also started for Minnesota before helping bring Paul Krause in another trade, creating extraordinary compounded value.
The Giants acquired Fran Tarkenton and received five seasons of star quarterback play. Minnesota collected a massive pick package that produced Ron Yary, Ed White, Bob Grim, and other value, then later reacquired Tarkenton. New York received the best immediate player, but the Vikings converted the return into more lasting franchise value.
Minnesota acquired linebacker Dave Tobey from Pittsburgh for the 1967 eighth-round selection that became No. 192 overall. Tobey appeared in 16 games with two starts for the Vikings across the 1966 and 1967 seasons. His contribution was modest but tangible, giving Minnesota two seasons of linebacker depth from a late-round draft choice.
Washington acquired offensive lineman Bill Briggs from Minnesota on August 31, 1966, sending the Vikings the draft choice that became 1967 eighth-round pick No. 197. Minnesota used it on tight end John Beasley, who played 75 games and started 48 for the Vikings. That multi-year contribution gives Minnesota the better return.
Minnesota acquired veteran back Phil King from Pittsburgh for its 1967 sixth-round pick. King gave the Vikings one season of depth, but the move did not create significant long-term value. Pittsburgh received the No. 140 selection and used it on Mike Haggerty, giving the Steelers a future roster opportunity in exchange for a veteran who was nearing the end of his NFL career.
Minnesota sent defensive tackle Jim Prestel and defensive back Larry Vargo to New York on June 7, 1966, receiving defensive end Bill Briggs and a future draft choice. Contemporary team histories place the pick in the 1967 sixth round, with No. 135 later moving through Minnesota. Briggs never played a regular-season game for the Vikings, while both Giants acquisitions started games in 1966.
New York acquired linebacker Bill Swain from Minnesota before the 1965 season for a 1966 sixth-round draft choice. Swain played 28 regular-season games for the Giants across 1965 and 1967, starting 19 of them and recording an interception in 1967. The pick became No. 83 overall, tackle Wilbur Aylor, who never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. The Giants therefore received the only meaningful on-field return from the exchange.
Minnesota acquired veteran halfback Billy Ray Barnes from Philadelphia for the 1966 20th-round selection that became No. 298 Gerald Circo. Barnes played 16 games with four starts for the Vikings across 1965 and 1966, totaling 199 scrimmage yards and one touchdown. Circo never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, so Minnesota gained the only tangible field value and earns the edge.
Minnesota acquired veteran defensive back Gary Lowe from Detroit for its 1966 10th-round selection, which the Lions used on No. 148 Bruce Yates. Minnesota's official draft history confirms that choice was sent to Detroit for Lowe. Lowe's NFL playing record ends with Detroit in 1964, and Yates never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, leaving both clubs without measurable post-trade field production and supporting an even result.
Minnesota acquired defensive end Bob Taylor from the New York Giants in May 1965 in a straight player trade for offensive lineman Dave O'Brien. Pro Football Archives dates Taylor's move to May 25. Taylor was released by the Vikings on September 14 before appearing in a Minnesota regular-season game, while O'Brien played 10 games with three starts for New York that season.
Minnesota acquired Chicago's 1966 fifth-round choice for guard Palmer Pyle and used No. 76 on defensive back Bob Hall. The Vikings' official draft history confirms the pick came from Chicago for Pyle. Hall never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, while Pyle's documented pro career after Minnesota continued with Oakland rather than Chicago. With neither acquired asset producing regular-season value for its new club, the exchange grades even.
Minnesota acquired the rights to tackle Larry Kramer from the Baltimore Colts on January 28, 1965, sending linebacker John Campbell and its 1966 eighth-round pick. That selection became No. 120 and was used on Jerry Allen. None of the pieces produced a major long-term advantage, leaving the exchange reasonably balanced in hindsight.
Minnesota sent the negotiating rights to first-round receiver Jack Snow to the Rams in a deal that brought veteran receiver Red Phillips and defensive lineman Gary Larsen to the Vikings. Transaction histories split the chronology between Snow’s rights move and the completed player package. All three became significant NFL contributors, with Snow giving Los Angeles the longest single-team payoff.
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.
Minnesota acquired Mike Bundra and Larry Vargo from Detroit on September 5, 1964, for its 1965 seventh-round and 1966 sixth-round choices. Bundra lasted only four Vikings games, but Vargo played 27 games with 17 starts over two Minnesota seasons and supplied steady defensive-backfield value. The Vikings received the more tangible NFL return from the two-player package.
Minnesota Vikings received Tom Hall (Francis), Bruce Zellmer, Tom Hall (Francis)l, while Detroit Lions received 1965 fifth round pick (#64-Ed Flanagan), 1964 draft pick (selection not identified). Minnesota acquired Tom Hall and Bruce Zellmer for its 1965 fifth-round selection, No. 64. Detroit used that choice on center Ed Flanagan, who became a four-time Pro Bowler and started 163 games in a 12-year career. Hall contributed multiple seasons for Minnesota, but Flanagan created the stronger long-term return for Detroit. From Minnesota Vikings perspective, the grade is based on realized
The legacy row records Minnesota receiving Tom Hall and Detroit receiving cash, but the date and package overlap a better-documented 1964 transaction trail. Hall unquestionably moved from Detroit to Minnesota, while player history places the move on August 1 and Vikings draft history links Hall and Bruce Zellmer to a 1965 fifth-round choice. This July entry is therefore best preserved as a disputed archival row rather than treated as a separate confirmed exchange.
Philadelphia acquired Don Hultz, Ray Poage, Chuck Lamson and Terry Kosens from Minnesota on May 29, 1964, for Ted Dean and the rights to Bob Berry. Poage started 26 games over two Eagles seasons and Hultz became a long-term Philadelphia defender. Dean played only two games for Minnesota, while Berry's early Vikings role was limited, making Philadelphia the clear winner.
The Colts traded guard Palmer Pyle to Minnesota in April 1964 for linebacker Steve Stonebreaker. Pyle spent the 1964 season with the Vikings, while Stonebreaker immediately became a regular for Baltimore, appearing in 14 games with 13 starts that year and ultimately logging 32 games and 19 starts for the Colts. Stonebreaker's stronger sustained role gives Baltimore the win.
San Francisco acquired tackle Roy Williams from Minnesota on October 30, 1963, for a 1965 eighth-round draft choice that became No. 100 John Hankinson. Williams appeared in seven games for the 49ers that season, while Hankinson never played an NFL regular-season game for Minnesota. The return was modest on both sides, but San Francisco received the only realized NFL playing value.
Minnesota acquired former No. 5 overall pick Bob Ferguson from Pittsburgh in October 1963 for its 1965 third-round selection. Ferguson's Vikings stay amounted to only two games and one rushing yard. Pittsburgh later used the No. 36 pick as part of the package that brought Bill Saul and Marv Woodson from Baltimore, giving the Steelers the more useful and flexible return.
The Los Angeles Rams traded linebacker Bill Jobko to Minnesota in 1963 for a draft choice. Historical team material supports the exchange, while the exact pick is not identified. Jobko gave Minnesota three full seasons from 1963 through 1965 before joining expansion Atlanta in 1966, providing a concrete multi-year return that outweighs an untraceable draft asset on the Rams' side.
Detroit drafted Karl Kassulke in the 11th round in 1963 but waived him during August roster cuts before he played a regular-season game for the Lions. Minnesota then signed him, and he spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Vikings. The evidence does not support the existing cash-trade description, so this row is corrected to a waiver-and-signing sequence rather than a bilateral trade.
The Los Angeles Rams dealt Tom Wilson to Minnesota in July 1963 and received the Vikings' 1964 tenth-round pick, No. 131, which became Ron Smith. The Rams recovered a draft choice for a veteran, but Wilson gave Minnesota 282 rushing yards and four touchdowns in eight games. That immediate production was more meaningful than the late-round return the Rams realized.
Minnesota traded Hall of Fame halfback Hugh McElhenny to New York on July 14, 1963, and received two confirmed draft choices: the 1964 fourth-round pick used on Tom Keating and the 1965 second-round pick used on Archie Sutton. McElhenny helped a Giants team reach the 1963 NFL Championship Game, but his New York tenure lasted only one season, leaving Minnesota with the stronger long-term asset return.
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.
Minnesota acquired Bill Brown from Chicago for a 1964 fourth-round pick that became linebacker Mike Reilly. Brown developed into one of the foundational players of the early Vikings, spending 13 seasons in Minnesota, making four Pro Bowls, rushing for 5,757 yards, and entering the team's Ring of Honor. Reilly had a respectable six-year NFL career, but his value never approached Brown's franchise impact.
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 sent Ed Culpepper to Pittsburgh and received what the surviving transaction trail describes only as a high draft choice. The exact selection and eventual player tied to that return cannot be established confidently, so Minnesota's downstream value remains unresolved. The player movement itself is supportable, but the unidentified pick prevents a complete accounting of what the Vikings ultimately received.
Minnesota acquired linebacker Cliff Livingston from New York on March 31, 1962, sending defensive back Dick Pesonen and its 1963 seventh-round choice, No. 87, later used on Dave Hoppmann. Livingston started for the 1962 Vikings but stayed only one season. Pesonen gave the Giants multiple seasons of secondary depth and interceptions, producing the more durable direct player return for New York.
Minnesota acquired Jerry Reichow in a deal that sent its 1962 seventh-round selection, No. 86, to Philadelphia. Vikings draft history confirms the pick was part of the Reichow transaction, while the exact execution date remains unavailable and the January 1 date functions as an archival placeholder. Reichow supplied Minnesota with multiple seasons of receiving value, giving the Vikings a substantial documented player return.
Minnesota acquired Jerry Reichow from Washington in September 1961 for draft-choice compensation, later identified in Vikings historical material as a seventh-round choice. Reichow immediately became one of the expansion club's best offensive players, catching 50 passes for 859 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1961 and remaining with Minnesota through 1964. That production makes the Vikings the clear winner.
Minnesota acquired defensive end Jim Leo from New York on August 31, 1961 for its 1963 seventh-round draft choice. Leo immediately became a useful early-Vikings starter, appearing in all 28 regular-season games across 1961 and 1962 with 22 starts. He started eight games in the franchise's inaugural season and all 14 in 1962, when later statistical reconstruction credits him with four sacks and a safety.
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's expansion roster added Mel Triplett, Bob Schnelker and Bob Schmidt from New York in July 1961. The Giants received Dave Whitsell, Zeke Smith, the 1962 fifth-round pick used on Bookie Bolin, and another 1962 selection whose exact slot is not securely traced. Triplett immediately started at fullback, while the Giants recovered multiple assets, producing a genuinely balanced early-franchise exchange.
The Rams traded veteran defensive back Will Sherman to expansion Minnesota on June 27, 1961 for a future draft choice. Contemporary reports establish the exchange even though the exact pick is not identified. Sherman, already an experienced Ram, appeared in eight games for the inaugural Vikings and contributed limited receiving work, giving Minnesota short-term veteran help at a still-unknown draft cost.
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 and New York completed a straight player-for-player line swap on February 20, 1961: the Vikings acquired tackle Ed Mazurek and the Giants received Charlie Janerette. Contemporary reporting confirms no extra consideration. Mazurek was released by Minnesota before the regular season, while Janerette played 26 games for New York across 1961 and 1962, giving the Giants the clear realized football advantage.
Minnesota acquired veteran quarterback George Shaw from New York for its 1962 first-round pick, which became the No. 2 overall selection. The Giants later flipped that premium choice to the Rams for star receiver Del Shofner and another 1962 first-rounder. Shaw gave the expansion Vikings experienced quarterback depth, but New York transformed the pick into far greater long-term value and a major offensive contributor.