ESPN Reveals Fascinating Info about Vikings Trade
It wasn’t the Minnesota Vikings’ idea. At least not originally.
ESPN Reveals Fascinating Info about Vikings Trade
ESPN’s Adam Schefter clarified details this week about a different Houston Texans trade involving former Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs, and while doing so, the world learned the Texans-Vikings trade from March 15th was born of Houston’s front office.
Foremost, three weeks ago, the Vikings pulled off an out-of-nowhere trade, grabbing an additional 1st-Round pick from the Texans while offloading two 2nd-Rounders in the deal, plus a late-round pick swap. Vikings loyalists rejoiced at the move, an indicator that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would trade again before the end of Round 1 inside the upcoming draft. Most fans believe that will still happen.
Fast forward to this week, and the Texans executed another trade, this time with the Buffalo Bills for Diggs. Houston received Diggs, a 2024 6th-Rounder, and a 2025 5th-Rounder for a 2nd-Round pick to the Bills. Diggs evidently needed a change of scenery and received just that this week.
Explaining the lead-up to the deal, Schefter said, “The Houston Texans went to the Minnesota Vikings and initiated a trade in which they got out of the 1st Round, got an extra 2nd-Round pick, and they got an extra 2nd-Round pick in 2025. Well, lo and behold, everyone assumed that was the Vikings initiating it so they could go up and get a quarterback.”
No matter who kickstarted the agreement, Minnesota still owns more 1st-Round capital in this year’s draft than any team to move up the board for Drake Maye of North Carolina or J.J. McCarthy, for example.
“But the truth of the matter is that it was the Texans who initiated that to get out of the 1st Round and get added draft capital in the 2nd Round,” Schefter concluded.
Houston and Minnesota have intertwined for ample business this offseason, as Danielle Hunter joined the Texans, and Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman, and Shaquill Griffin — all former Texans — became Vikings via free agency. The Diggs trade angle was also a bit close to home because he spent his first five seasons in Minnesota. The 2nd-Round pick from Houston to Buffalo originally belonged to Minnesota, oddly enough.
Meanwhile, the two teams will play each other in 2024, either in Minneapolis or London, so a rubber match of sorts regarding the offseason is afoot.
On the whole, let it be known, per Schefter, that handing Minnesota an additional 1st-Round pick was a Texans-driven brainchild, and if Minnesota can land a quarterback of the future with the pick, well, fans will owe Houstonians thank you cards.
The NFL draft is three weeks away.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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