Cleveland traded defensive end Stalin Colinet and a 2002…
Cleveland traded defensive end Stalin Colinet and a 2002 seventh-round pick to Minnesota on October 16, 2001, receiving the Vikings’ 2003 fifth-round selection. Minnesota got 11 games and one sack from Colinet before his tenure ended. Cleveland used the fifth-rounder at No. 142 on long snapper Ryan Pontbriand, who became a durable two-time Pro Bowl specialist for the Browns.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 2003 5th round pick (142nd overall, Ryan Pontbriand)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Stalin Colinet
- pick 2002 7th round pick
Trade Analysis
The Documented Exchange
On October 16, 2001, Minnesota sent Cleveland a 2003 fifth-round pick for defensive end Stalin Colinet and a 2002 seventh-round selection. Team trade records identify the future fifth-rounder as the selection that became No. 142 overall in 2003, when Cleveland drafted Rice long snapper Ryan Pontbriand. The seventh-round component on Minnesota’s side remains part of the documented package even though its eventual player value is not central to the outcome.
What Minnesota Received
Colinet stepped directly into the Vikings’ lineup. He played 11 games for Minnesota after the trade, started all 11 and recorded one sack. That immediate use matters, especially for an in-season deal intended to address a present roster need. His second Minnesota stint ended after 2001, however, and he appeared in only one more NFL game, with Jacksonville in 2002. The additional seventh-round pick adds some value but does not offset the short duration of the principal player return.
What Cleveland Received
Cleveland had to wait until the 2003 draft to realize its return, but Pontbriand became unusually productive for a fifth-round specialist. He played 134 NFL games and spent his meaningful career with the Browns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2007 season and again became a Pro Bowl long snapper, giving Cleveland years of stability at a specialized position. The Browns effectively exchanged a short-term defensive lineman and a late pick for a player who held a roster role for nearly a decade.
Final Verdict
Minnesota received immediate starting snaps from Colinet, so the trade was not empty value, and the seventh-rounder warrants a C+ rather than a lower mark. Cleveland’s delayed fifth-round return became a durable, twice-recognized specialist with far greater longevity. That realized value clearly exceeds Minnesota’s short-term gain. The Browns receive an A- and the Vikings a C+, producing a clear Cleveland win.