Minnesota sent Matt Cassel and a 2015 sixth-round pick to…
Minnesota sent Matt Cassel and a 2015 sixth-round pick to Buffalo for a 2015 fifth and a 2016 seventh. The key was what the Vikings did next: they flipped the fifth-rounder, No. 137, to Atlanta for Nos. 146 and 185, selecting Stefon Diggs and Tyrus Thompson. Cassel barely figured into Buffalo's season, while the pick chain helped Minnesota land a franchise-changing receiver.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2015 5th round pick (137th overall subsequently traded, Grady Jarrett )
- pick 2016 7th round pick (240th overall subsequently traded, Alex McCalister)
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Matt Cassel
- pick 2015 6th round pick (188th overall, Tony Steward)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Buffalo entered 2015 looking for veteran quarterback competition and acquired Matt Cassel from Minnesota. The Vikings were ready to move on from Cassel after Teddy Bridgewater's rookie season and accepted draft capital instead. Minnesota sent Cassel and pick No. 187, receiving No. 137 in 2015 and a 2016 seventh-rounder.
What Each Side Received
The Bills received Cassel and the sixth-round selection. Minnesota received a fifth and a future seventh. The important distinction is that pick No. 137 should not be credited to Minnesota as Grady Jarrett simply because he was eventually selected there. The Vikings traded that pick again before it was used.
How the Value Developed
Minnesota sent No. 137 to Atlanta for picks No. 146 and No. 185. The Vikings used No. 146 on Stefon Diggs and No. 185 on Tyrus Thompson. Diggs became one of the defining players of Minnesota's next era, producing four strong seasons before later becoming the centerpiece of another major trade. Buffalo's side did not create similar value. Cassel lost the starting competition and was dealt to Dallas in September, leaving the Bills with only a brief veteran stopover.
Why Minnesota Gets the Edge
This is a pick-chain victory rather than a simple player-for-player result. Minnesota turned a quarterback it no longer needed into the draft flexibility that directly enabled the Diggs selection. Buffalo's move was reasonable as a low-risk attempt to stabilize the position, but its payoff was temporary and limited.
Final Verdict
Minnesota earns an A because the incoming fifth-round pick became the bridge to Stefon Diggs, a major long-term asset. Buffalo receives a C because the club paid modestly for a veteran option but did not receive meaningful lasting value. The Vikings win decisively.