Minnesota acquired veteran linebacker Sam Cowart from the…
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.
New York Jets Received
- pick 2005 7th round pick (230th overall subsequently traded, Matt Cassel )
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Sam Cowart
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
New York traded Sam Cowart to Minnesota on March 18, 2005, for the No. 230 selection in that year's draft. The transaction was a veteran-for-late-pick swap. The choice later moved through additional trades and ultimately reached New England, which selected Matt Cassel. That downstream history is notable, but it should not be treated as a player drafted by the Jets.
Minnesota Vikings Return
Cowart supplied exactly the kind of short-term veteran help Minnesota was seeking. He played 15 games in 2005 and started 14, becoming a regular part of the defense for one season. The relationship was brief, yet a seventh-round pick is a limited cost for a player who steps directly into a starting role and handles substantial regular-season snaps.
New York Jets Return
The Jets received No. 230 and gained flexibility at the end of the draft. That selection did not become a direct long-term Jets player; instead, it was passed along through later transactions before New England eventually used the slot on Cassel. The chain matters for documenting the pick, but New York's own football return from this specific deal remained modest.
Value in Hindsight
The correct comparison is Cowart's Minnesota contribution against the draft asset New York actually received, not Cassel's later Patriots career. Viewed that way, Minnesota obtained a starting linebacker for a low-cost selection. New York cleared a veteran and gained a tradable pick, which has some value, but the immediate result was less useful than Cowart's 14 starts.
Final Verdict
Minnesota keeps a small win. The Vikings earn a C+ for turning a seventh-round choice into a season of starting linebacker play. The Jets receive a C for acquiring legitimate late-round draft capital without a strong direct payoff. The gap is modest, but Cowart's actual 2005 workload is enough to separate the sides.