Minnesota acquired Miami's NFL rights to Anthony Carter in…
Minnesota acquired Miami's NFL rights to Anthony Carter in August 1985, sending linebacker Robin Sendlein and a 1986 second-round pick that later became Kevin Murphy after further movement. Carter immediately became a premier Vikings receiver and stayed through 1993, producing 7,635 receiving yards for Minnesota. That sustained star-level return makes this a decisive Vikings victory.
Miami Dolphins Received
- player Robin Sendlein
- pick 1986 second round pick (#40-Kevin Murphy; later traded to Tampa Bay)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- other rights to Anthony Carter
Trade Analysis
Minnesota was buying rights rather than an active Miami roster player. Carter had starred in the USFL, and Miami controlled his NFL rights. On August 15, 1985, the Dolphins sent those rights to the Vikings for linebacker Robin Sendlein and Minnesota's 1986 second-round selection. Minnesota's own historical draft accounting identifies that second-round choice as having been traded to Miami for Carter.
The payoff was immediate and long-lasting. Carter caught 43 passes for 821 yards and eight touchdowns in his first Vikings season, then remained a centerpiece of the offense through 1993. NFL statistics show multiple 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,225 yards in 1988, and Minnesota's historical materials credit him with 7,635 receiving yards during his Vikings tenure. His postseason performances and vertical-play ability made him one of the defining receivers in franchise history.
Miami did receive real compensation. Sendlein became part of the Dolphins roster, and the second-round pick retained trade value. That No. 40 selection later moved to Tampa Bay in the Hugh Green trade, where the Buccaneers used it on Kevin Murphy. Because Miami itself did not select Murphy, the return is best described as draft capital that was subsequently moved rather than as a direct Murphy selection.
The gap in realized football value is still enormous. Minnesota turned a player and a second-round pick into nine seasons of a top receiver. Miami converted unused rights into assets, which was sensible in context, but the Vikings captured the star outcome. That combination supports an A+ for Minnesota and a clear Vikings win without pretending Miami received nothing.