Minnesota traded reserve defensive end Jayme Mitchell to…
Minnesota traded reserve defensive end Jayme Mitchell to Cleveland for a 2012 sixth-round pick that became kicker Blair Walsh. Mitchell did not play for Cleveland in 2010 and lasted only one active Browns season. Walsh made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, set an NFL record with 10 field goals from 50-plus yards in 2012 and kicked for Minnesota for five seasons. The Vikings turned expendable depth into a major special-teams return.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Jayme Mitchell
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2012 6th round pick (175th overall, Blair Walsh)
Trade Analysis
Why Cleveland Acquired Mitchell
The Browns traded a 2012 draft choice to Minnesota in October 2010 for defensive end Jayme Mitchell. Cleveland needed depth on an injured defensive front and viewed the former undrafted Viking as a possible fit in its 3-4 system. Official Browns history identifies the compensation as a 2012 sixth-round selection, correcting later summaries that mislabeled the pick as a 2010 seventh-rounder.
What Mitchell Gave Cleveland
Mitchell did not appear in a game for Cleveland immediately after the trade, but he returned in 2011 and received a larger defensive role. His Browns tenure still lasted only through that season before the club released him in March 2012. Cleveland therefore received some starting-level snaps from a low-cost acquisition, enough to make its side useful but short-lived.
What Minnesota Received
The sixth-round choice became pick No. 175 in the 2012 draft. Minnesota used it on Georgia kicker Blair Walsh. Walsh produced a spectacular rookie season, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors while making 35 of 38 field-goal attempts. He also set an NFL record with 10 field goals from at least 50 yards. Walsh remained Minnesota’s primary kicker for parts of five seasons.
Why the Pick Became So Valuable
A sixth-round kicker is not automatically a major return, but Walsh immediately became one of the league’s best at his position and delivered several years of service. Minnesota converted a reserve defender it could spare into a player who directly won games and handled a high-leverage role.
Final Verdict
Minnesota Vikings Win. Walsh’s peak and multi-year tenure earn Minnesota an A. Cleveland receives a C because Mitchell provided some useful defensive snaps in 2011, but his brief stay cannot match the value created by the sixth-round pick.