Minnesota sent pick No. 137 to Atlanta for Nos. 146 and 185.…
Minnesota sent pick No. 137 to Atlanta for Nos. 146 and 185. The Vikings used No. 146 on Stefon Diggs, who became a star receiver and later brought back another major draft package. Atlanta selected Grady Jarrett at No. 137, landing a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and long-term franchise cornerstone. When both sides turn fifth-round territory into elite players, neither deserves to be called the loser.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2015 5th round pick (146th overall, Stefon Diggs)
- pick 2015 6th round pick (185th overall, Tyrus Thompson)
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2015 5th round pick (137th overall, Grady Jarrett )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Atlanta sent picks No. 146 and 185 to Minnesota for pick No. 137 during the 2015 draft. The Falcons selected Clemson defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Five selections later, the Vikings used No. 146 on Maryland receiver Stefon Diggs and later took tackle Tyrus Thompson at No. 185. The transaction involved modest draft capital, yet it produced two of the most accomplished players selected in that portion of the draft.
Why Atlanta Wanted Jarrett
Jarrett was undersized by traditional defensive-tackle standards, but his quickness and production translated immediately. He grew from a fifth-round pick into the centerpiece of Atlanta's defensive front, earned multiple Pro Bowl selections and remained with the franchise for more than a decade. His performance in Super Bowl LI underscored how high his ceiling became. Finding that level of sustained interior-line play at No. 137 is exceptional draft value.
How Minnesota Found Its Own Star
Diggs made the trade impossible to judge as a simple Falcons victory. He became a productive starter, topped 1,000 receiving yards in consecutive Vikings seasons and authored the Minneapolis Miracle in the 2017 playoffs. Minnesota later traded him to Buffalo for a package that included the first-round pick used on Justin Jefferson. Thompson contributed little, but the Diggs selection alone gave the Vikings enormous on-field and downstream value.
Final Verdict
There is no useful reason to force a winner here. Atlanta moved up and secured a franchise defensive tackle. Minnesota moved down and found a franchise receiver, then eventually converted that player into another premium asset. Both teams beat the odds attached to fifth-round picks by an extraordinary margin. The appropriate result is an A+ for each side and an even verdict—one of the best mutually beneficial draft trades of the decade.