Minnesota moved up eight spots in the fifth round for…
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 Vikings Received
- pick 2009 5th round pick (150th overall, Jasper Brinkley)
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 2009 5th round pick (158th overall, Cody Glenn)
- pick 2009 7th round pick (221st overall, Eddie Williams)
Trade Analysis
Minnesota's 2009 draft was already producing immediate help when the Vikings chose to move eight spots up in the fifth round for South Carolina linebacker Jasper Brinkley. Washington received No. 158 and No. 221, while Minnesota took Brinkley at No. 150. The cost was small, but the trade illustrates why targeted late-round moves can matter when a team has a defined role for the player.
Brinkley began as a reserve and special-teams contributor, then was pushed into a larger role after E.J. Henderson's severe leg injury late in his rookie season. He later became Minnesota's starting middle linebacker in 2012 and eventually returned to the Vikings after a year in Arizona. Brinkley was never a star, but he supplied real defensive snaps, starting experience and roster continuity from a fifth-round selection. For a team that reached the NFC Championship Game in his rookie season, that was a useful return.
Washington's extra selections did not create similar value. Cody Glenn, chosen at No. 158, did not become a lasting contributor for Washington, and seventh-rounder Eddie Williams also failed to develop into a meaningful piece. Trading down gave Washington another lottery ticket, but the added quantity never translated into useful on-field production.
This is exactly the type of lower-round exchange where the result matters more than the small difference in draft-value charts. Minnesota identified a player who could fill a specific defensive role and gave up little to secure him. Washington gained an extra pick but did not convert either selection into comparable help. Brinkley's multi-year contribution supports a B+ for the Vikings, while Washington's return falls to a D+. Minnesota clearly won the deal without the move needing to become a headline transaction.