Minnesota traded the 2013 No. 189 selection to Tampa Bay for…
Minnesota traded the 2013 No. 189 selection to Tampa Bay for picks No. 196 and No. 229. The Buccaneers used No. 189 on running back Mike James, while the Vikings selected guard Jeff Baca and defensive tackle Everett Dawkins. James produced the most meaningful NFL contribution of the three, including 351 rushing yards across his career. Minnesota's two-player return offered depth but very little sustained value.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2013 6th round pick (196th overall, Jeff Baca )
- pick 2013 7th round pick (229th overall, Everett Dawkins )
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 2013 6th round pick (189th overall, Mike James )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On April 27, 2013, Tampa Bay acquired Minnesota's sixth-round pick at No. 189. The Vikings received the Buccaneers' sixth-round selection at No. 196 and seventh-round selection at No. 229. Tampa Bay drafted running back Mike James. Minnesota used its two picks on guard Jeff Baca and defensive tackle Everett Dawkins. The transaction was a simple late-round move-up, with Tampa paying an extra seventh-rounder to choose seven spots earlier.
Minnesota Vikings Return
Baca reached the NFL roster but appeared in only a handful of regular-season games for Minnesota. Dawkins had even less impact and did not become a Minnesota contributor. Getting two prospects instead of one gave the Vikings a sensible volume strategy, but neither selection turned into a sustained reserve, starter or special-teams fixture. The extra lottery ticket did not create the payoff Minnesota wanted.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return
James gave Tampa Bay the most useful player in the deal. He appeared in 23 career games and rushed for 351 yards, including a productive stretch as an injury replacement. That is modest production in the context of an NFL career, but it is meaningful when evaluating a sixth-round move-up against two selections that generated little value for the other side. Tampa did not acquire a star; it acquired a functioning depth player at a low cost.
Value in Hindsight
Late-round trades should be graded on practical roster return rather than the number of picks alone. Minnesota had two chances and missed on both. Tampa had one principal chance and turned it into a player who contributed in real games. The separation is not enormous because James' career was limited, but the outcome is clear.
Final Verdict
Tampa Bay wins, B- to Minnesota's C. The Buccaneers paid a reasonable premium to target Mike James and received the only notable NFL production from the three players selected with the exchanged picks.