Minnesota moved from pick No. 159 to No. 162 in the 2019…
Minnesota moved from pick No. 159 to No. 162 in the 2019 draft and added No. 239, selecting Cameron Smith and Dillon Mitchell. New England used No. 159 on defensive tackle Byron Cowart. Cowart played 19 games for the Patriots and started 14 in 2020, while Minnesota received limited football value from its two selections. New England won the small draft-day exchange.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2019 5th round pick (162nd overall, Cameron Smith )
- pick 2019 7th round pick (239th overall, Dillon Mitchell )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2019 5th round pick (159th overall, Byron Cowart )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Minnesota and New England made a small Day 3 draft trade on April 27, 2019. The Patriots moved up three spots from No. 162 to No. 159 and sent Minnesota No. 239 as part of the exchange. New England selected Byron Cowart at 159, while the Vikings used their two choices on Cameron Smith and Dillon Mitchell.
Minnesota Vikings Return
The Vikings increased their number of selections and took Smith at No. 162 and Mitchell at No. 239. Smith's football path was disrupted by a serious heart condition, and he later retired in 2021 after returning from surgery. Mitchell did not develop into a meaningful regular-season contributor. The process produced two chances, but the combined on-field result was limited.
New England Patriots Return
Cowart gave New England a tangible return from the move up. He appeared in 19 games for the Patriots and started 14 during the 2020 season, providing real interior defensive line snaps. His Patriots career was not lengthy enough to make this a major win, but he clearly produced more regular-season value for his club than Minnesota's two selections did.
Value in Hindsight
This trade is a reminder that acquiring an extra late pick does not guarantee better aggregate value. Minnesota logically preferred two shots, and the health circumstances surrounding Smith were not something the club could reasonably anticipate. In pure hindsight, however, New England's single targeted selection became a starting defender while the Vikings' pair generated little lasting production.
Final Verdict
New England wins, B to C-. Cowart's 14-start 2020 season is the best concrete return in the deal. Minnesota's grade recognizes the rational draft-capital move and the unusual health context, but the Vikings ultimately did not receive enough NFL production from Smith and Mitchell to match the Patriots' result.