Minnesota moved from pick No. 80 to No. 88 and added pick No.…
Minnesota moved from pick No. 80 to No. 88 and added pick No. 143 in a deal with Detroit. The Vikings selected Danielle Hunter and MyCole Pruitt, while the Lions used No. 80 on cornerback Alex Carter. Hunter became a multiple-Pro Bowl pass rusher and one of the youngest players in NFL history to reach 50 sacks. Carter barely played for Detroit. Minnesota turned a move down into a franchise-changing defender.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 2015 3rd round pick (80th overall, Alex Carter )
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2015 3rd round pick (88th overall, Danielle Hunter)
- pick 2015 5th round pick (143rd overall, MyCole Pruitt )
Trade Analysis
Minnesota had already moved down once in the third round when it made another deal, sending pick No. 80 to Detroit for picks No. 88 and No. 143. The Lions used No. 80 on Stanford cornerback Alex Carter. The Vikings waited eight more spots and selected LSU defensive end Danielle Hunter, then used the fifth-round selection on tight end MyCole Pruitt.
Hunter's development turned the transaction into one of Minnesota's best modern draft trades. He was only 20 when drafted and entered the league as a traits-heavy prospect, but he recorded six sacks as a rookie and 12.5 in his second season. He became a full-time starter in 2017, earned Pro Bowl honors in 2018 and 2019 and reached 50 career sacks faster than any player in NFL history at the time. He remained a premier edge defender for Minnesota through the 2023 season before leaving in free agency.
Pruitt was a secondary benefit. He spent two seasons with the Vikings and contributed as a reserve tight end and special-teams player before continuing a lengthy NFL career elsewhere. He was not a major part of the win, but the extra selection did produce a real professional player.
Detroit's side never developed. Carter lost his rookie season to injury, appeared in only limited action for the Lions and was released in 2017. The Lions moved up for a cornerback who did not become part of their long-term defense.
Minnesota therefore won every dimension of the exchange: the Vikings moved down, added another pick and still drafted the vastly superior player. Hunter became a multiple-Pro Bowl pass rusher and franchise cornerstone. The Vikings deserve an A+ with no need to revise the top grade. Detroit earns a D because the move-up cost extra capital and produced almost no usable return. This remains a decisive Minnesota Vikings win.