Minnesota sent picks 115 and 185 to Philadelphia for guard…
Minnesota sent picks 115 and 185 to Philadelphia for guard Artis Hicks and pick 127, which became defensive end Ray Edwards. The Eagles immediately moved the two incoming selections to Green Bay for pick 109, used on Jason Avant. Both organizations extracted real value, but Minnesota received two useful players directly, including the best defensive player in the chain, while Philadelphia's downstream conversion keeps this from being a lopsided result.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Artis Hicks
- pick 2006 4th round pick (127th overall, Ray Edwards )
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 2006 4th round pick (115th overall subsequently traded, Will Blackmon )
- pick 2006 6th round pick (185th overall subsequently traded, Tyrone Culver )
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Minnesota sent picks 115 and 185 to Philadelphia for guard Artis Hicks and pick 127, which became defensive end Ray Edwards. The Eagles immediately moved the two incoming selections to Green Bay for pick 109, used on Jason Avant. At the time, each club had a practical roster reason for acting, and the price was small enough or targeted enough to make the exchange understandable before the later results were known.
What the Returns Produced
Hicks started 27 games across four Minnesota seasons, including 14 in 2006, while Edwards developed into a multiyear starting edge defender and recorded most of his 33 career sacks with the Vikings. Philadelphia did not simply end up with Will Blackmon and Tyrone Culver. By flipping both selections, the Eagles obtained Jason Avant, who became a durable and productive slot receiver for eight seasons. Looking only at the names exchanged on the transaction date misses part of the story, because actual playing time, role, longevity and any later use of draft capital determine how much football value each side ultimately created.
How the Value Developed
Both organizations extracted real value, but Minnesota received two useful players directly, including the best defensive player in the chain, while Philadelphia's downstream conversion keeps this from being a lopsided result. The longer view matters most here: a short burst of production can still justify a modest acquisition cost, while a draft choice can become more valuable when it is converted into a durable starter or additional selections.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This deal is a useful reminder that trade value should follow the complete return rather than stop at the first transaction line. Later pick movement, roster tenure and meaningful postseason or starting contributions all belong in the comparison. That approach gives both teams credit for what their assets actually became instead of grading only the original labels.
Final Verdict
Minnesota Vikings Win is the best fit. Minnesota Vikings earns a A-, while Philadelphia Eagles earns a B. Those marks account for the cost paid, the direct production received, the length of each contribution and any important downstream draft value. The gap is intentionally narrow when both sides found useful returns and wider when one club received little lasting football value.