Minnesota moved from No. 76 to No. 80 in the 2015 third round…
Minnesota moved from No. 76 to No. 80 in the 2015 third round and added pick No. 193, allowing Kansas City to select receiver Chris Conley. The Vikings then flipped No. 80 to Detroit for Nos. 88 and 143, selecting Danielle Hunter and MyCole Pruitt. Conley became a useful Chiefs receiver, but Hunter developed into a multiple-time Pro Bowler and elite pass rusher. The downstream move makes Minnesota the clear winner.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2015 3rd round pick (80th overall subsequently traded, Alex Carter )
- pick 2015 6th round pick (193rd overall, B.J. Dubose)
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 2015 3rd round pick (76th overall, Chris Conley)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Kansas City wanted Georgia receiver Chris Conley and moved from No. 80 to No. 76 in the third round. Minnesota accepted the small move down and added pick No. 193. On its face, the exchange was a typical draft-board trade: the Chiefs paid a sixth-rounder to secure their target while the Vikings collected another asset.
What Each Side Received
Kansas City selected Conley at No. 76. Minnesota initially received No. 80 and No. 193, later using the sixth-rounder on B.J. Dubose. The most important development came before No. 80 was used: Minnesota traded that selection to Detroit for No. 88 and No. 143.
How the Value Developed
The Vikings selected Danielle Hunter at No. 88 and MyCole Pruitt at No. 143. Hunter became an elite edge defender and a multiple-time Pro Bowler for Minnesota, vastly outperforming the normal expectation for a third-round selection. Conley was a useful Chief, producing regular receiving snaps and contributing across four seasons, so Kansas City deserves a good grade rather than being treated as a loser that received nothing. Hunter's ceiling and longevity simply changed the scale of the comparison.
Why Minnesota Gets the Edge
The Vikings used the flexibility created by the first trade to make a second trade down and still land a star. That downstream sequence is directly traceable to the No. 80 asset acquired from Kansas City. The Chiefs achieved their immediate goal, but Minnesota transformed patience into elite defensive value.
Final Verdict
Minnesota earns an A for a trade chain that led directly to Danielle Hunter while also adding another pick. Kansas City receives a B because Conley was a legitimate contributor and the move-up cost was modest. The Chiefs made a defensible trade; the Vikings simply extracted exceptional value from it.