Minnesota Vikings–New York Giants Trade History

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.

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'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.

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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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.