Minnesota acquired the NFL rights to Gary Zimmerman from New…
Minnesota acquired the NFL rights to Gary Zimmerman from New York for two 1986 second-round picks, Nos. 44 and 53. The Giants used those choices on Mark Collins and Greg Lasker, receiving useful value from Collins in particular. Zimmerman became a perennial All-Pro tackle and eventual Hall of Famer, making the Vikings' willingness to spend two second-rounders one of the strongest offensive-line investments of the era.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- other Rights to Gary Zimmerman
New York Giants Received
- pick 1986 second-round pick, No. 44 overall, used on Mark Collins
- pick 1986 second-round pick, No. 53 overall, used on Greg Lasker
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
During the 1986 draft, Minnesota sent the Giants two second-round picks, Nos. 44 and 53, for the NFL rights to tackle Gary Zimmerman. New York used No. 44 on defensive back Mark Collins and No. 53 on Greg Lasker. The package is fully identified in draft transaction records and contains no additional consideration.
Why Minnesota Made the Deal
Zimmerman had played in the USFL after the Giants selected him in the 1984 supplemental draft, so Minnesota was buying rights to a proven professional tackle rather than a typical prospect. The Vikings paid two valuable Day 2 choices because high-end offensive tackles are difficult to acquire and because Zimmerman had already demonstrated that he could play at a professional level.
What New York Received
The Giants did receive real value. Collins became a long-term defensive back, played on two Super Bowl championship teams and intercepted 15 passes in eight seasons with New York. Lasker had a much smaller impact, but the deal was not a total miss for the Giants despite surrendering the future Hall of Famer.
How the Value Developed
Zimmerman quickly became one of the league's premier tackles. He earned repeated All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, made the NFL's All-Decade Teams for both the 1980s and 1990s, and later entered the Hall of Fame. Minnesota received elite protection at a foundational position, comfortably surpassing the combined value of the two selections.
Final Verdict
Minnesota wins despite Collins' strong career. Two second-round picks were a serious price, but Zimmerman delivered Hall of Fame-level performance and became one of the defining tackles of his generation. The Giants found a useful starter, while the Vikings acquired the rare transformational player.
Zimmerman's Hall of Fame trajectory gave Minnesota the strongest single asset despite Collins becoming a valuable Giants contributor.