Minnesota sent picks No. 86 and No. 119 to New England in the…
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 Received
- pick 2001 3rd round pick (69th overall, Eric Kelly )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2001 3rd round pick (86th overall, Brock Williams )
- pick 2001 4th round pick (119th overall, Jabari Holloway )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Minnesota moved from two selections to one during the 2001 draft. The Vikings sent New England picks No. 86 and No. 119 for pick No. 69, then selected cornerback Eric Kelly. The Patriots turned the acquired choices into cornerback Brock Williams and tight end Jabari Holloway. Unlike many trade-ups, this one did not produce a clear long-term starter for either club.
Minnesota Vikings Return
Kelly gave Minnesota the direct benefit of the trade-up and spent time in the Vikings secondary, but he did not develop into the kind of durable starter that would make the extra fourth-round cost disappear. The move therefore became dependent on whether New England could extract meaningful value from the two selections Minnesota surrendered.
New England Patriots Return
Williams and Holloway each provided another chance for New England to find roster value. Neither became a cornerstone, and the Patriots did not uncover a hidden star with either pick. Still, two usable prospects from the transaction gave New England more optionality and a slightly broader return than Minnesota received from Kelly alone.
Value in Hindsight
This is a low-impact trade whose lesson is about price rather than stardom. Moving from No. 86 to No. 69 cost Minnesota pick No. 119, a meaningful addition for a team seeking depth. Because Kelly’s career did not separate sharply from the Patriots’ selections, the extra pick becomes the tiebreaker. New England’s advantage should remain modest because its own results were limited.
Final Verdict
The Patriots receive a narrow win, graded C+ to Minnesota’s C. New England’s side was not a draft coup, but it created two roster opportunities and avoided concentrating value in one player. Minnesota’s trade-up produced some return, just not enough to overcome the added fourth-round cost.