If the Vikings Trade Any Players, It Should Be One Man.
The Minnesota Vikings employ a general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who loves the art of the deal.
If the Vikings Trade Any Players, It Should Be One Man.
The young executive trades more than most, and with the NFL draft three weeks away, Adofo-Mensah could swing trades before or during the draft. In fact, many expect the Vikings to trade down on draft night from their organic 24th spot.
But if Adofo-Mensah wishes to trade a player or two, only one man, at least per difference-makers on the team who would fetch a reasonable return, makes sense — defensive tackle Harrison Phillips.
First, Draft DT Kenneth Grant
Trading Phillips — strictly a hypothetical suggestion — only really adds up if Minnesota drafts a defensive tackle with its first pick later this month. Otherwise, the team should keep Phillips and explore a cornerback or interior offensive lineman.
But in this scenario, the Vikings would use the No. 24 pick on Kenneth Grant, a monster from Michigan, also a collegiate teammate of quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Grant would not be stuck on the purple depth chart behind too many players if Phillips departed via trade.
Grant is a beast, equitably stuffing the run and tormenting quarterbacks — hence his 1st-Round draft stock.
NFL Draft Buzz‘s K.C. Martinez explains about Grant’s skill set: “Grant’s going to wreck shop in the right system. The film shows a defender who already dominates one-on-one blocks and has the raw tools to develop into a legitimate three-down force.”
“What jumps off the screen is how he consistently wins the leverage battle against top competition – watch his work against Ohio State’s interior line for evidence of his ceiling. The athleticism isn’t just testing numbers; his pursuit angles and closing speed show up repeatedly in critical moments.”
That sounds like a man who can play sooner rather than later — and if the Vikings selected him, why let him waste away on the bench with a veteran like Phillips in front of him? Start the Grant era in September.
Then, Trade Harrison Phillips
Onboarding Grant from Round 1 of the draft would make Phillips expendable. In theory, Minnesota could have it all — draft Grant, keep Phillips, and also deploy the newcomers Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave on Sundays.
That can work. It’s just that Grant’s rookie season snaps will mirror Dallas Turner’s from 2024 — minimal because “too many” good players lived on the roster ahead of him.
Adofo-Mensah would probably fetch a 5th-Rounder for Phillips’ services via trade, or a 4th-Rounder if he included a 7th-Rounder or so heading to Phillips’ new team.
Phillips is not an absolute superstar, but some club would likely pay the 5th-Round price.
Money Saved via Phillips Trade
Trading Phillips would save the Vikings $6.3 million if the deal shook down during the draft or before June 1st. After June 1st, the savings for the 2025 cap would climb to $8 million.
With the $6 million to $8 million in cap savings, Minnesota could sign a backup quarterback, guard, or cornerback from free agency. His extension last season was structured favorably and can accommodate a trade this season or release next season if Minnesota decides the DT room is suddenly too crowded.
Depth Not Sacrificed
Until this March, the Vikings DT personnel and depth always inspired eye-rolls.
For years — arguably since Kevin Williams left the franchise 12 years ago — multiple iterations of Vikings leadership glossed over the defensive tackle spot, employing mediocre and anonymous interior defensive linemen rather than drafting premiere defenders early in the draft.
Now, however, Minnesota has Allen, Hargrave, the upstart Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Taki Taimani at its disposal — in addition to Phillips. That may be too many defensive tackles if the organization has a high opinion of Redmond, Drake Rodriguez, and Taimani.
Adding Grant, for example, would push the depth way over the top, which is not a bad thing.
In any event, drafting Grant and trading Phillips would not sacrifice any DT depth.
Not a Mandatory Trade
Of course, this trade proposal — Phillips for a 5th-Rounder — is theoretical. No one should be utterly chomping at the bit to offload Phillips. He’s a solid football player and an even better human being.
Alternatively, this trade idea came from the mindset of: What if they have to trade an existing player to accrue more draft capital? Who would it be?
Well, it’d be Phillips, based on current depth chart construction. But generally speaking, Minnesota doesn’t have to trade any existing players at all to shine in 2025.
A Team That Needs Draft Picks
The Vikings have four draft picks heading into the draft. Four. That’s it. It’s the fewest in the NFL.
Manufacturing Phillips trade scenarios is based solely on the fact that Adofo-Mensah may want more throws at the dartboard in three weeks. Some have suggested that Minnesota could trade Jordan Addison or Andrew Van Ginkel, but those men are probably too vital to the enterprise in 2025.
Then, men like Brian Asamoah and Ty Chandler — both buried on the depth chart — may not entice other general managers via trade.
Phillips, on the other hand, blends both worlds: a player who can probably net a draft pick above Round 6 and one that would interest other teams.
Why the Vikings Made Their Big Trade …
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