The 2007 Brian Robison Trade: Minnesota Moved Four Spots and Found an 11-Year Viking
Minnesota sent picks 106 and 182 to Tampa Bay for No. 102 and selected Brian Robison. The fourth-round move produced 173 games, 60 sacks and more than a decade of defensive-line stability.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2007 4th round pick (102nd overall, Brian Robison )
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 2007 4th round pick (106th overall, Tanard Jackson )
- pick 2007 6th round pick (182nd overall, Adam Hayward )
Trade Summary
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.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Minnesota sent the 106th and 182nd picks in the 2007 draft to Tampa Bay for No. 102. The Vikings used the higher fourth-round pick on Texas defensive end Brian Robison. Tampa Bay selected safety Tanard Jackson at No. 106 and linebacker Adam Hayward at No. 182.
Why the Move Up Paid Off
Robison became the kind of mid-round hit that makes a small move up look brilliant years later. He spent 11 seasons with Minnesota, appeared in 173 games and finished with 60 sacks. Vikings history ranks him among the franchise leaders for games played by a defensive end, and he missed only three contests during his career.
He was not a perennial Pro Bowl star, but longevity and reliable pass-rush production matter enormously from a fourth-round selection. Robison started for years, accepted changing roles late in his career and remained useful deep into his 30s.
What Tampa Bay Received
The Buccaneers did not waste the extra volume. Jackson became a starting safety and intercepted 10 passes over his Tampa Bay tenure. Hayward developed into a durable linebacker and special-teams contributor. Those are legitimate outcomes for fourth- and sixth-round picks.
Why Minnesota Still Won
The Vikings concentrated two selections into one player and received more than a decade of service at a premium defensive position. That longevity created more cumulative value than Tampa Bay's two useful pieces.
Final Verdict
The Minnesota Vikings Win verdict is strong without turning Tampa Bay's return into a failure. The Buccaneers found NFL contributors; Minnesota found an 11-year fixture and one of the more productive fourth-round defenders in franchise history.
Brian Robison remained with Minnesota for eleven seasons, played 173 games and recorded 60 sacks, giving the Vikings extraordinary longevity from a four-slot move even though Tampa Bay also found two useful contributors.