Vikings Fire Off Trade with Texans
The Ed Ingram era at guard with the Minnesota Vikings is over.
Vikings Fire Off Trade with Texans
Minnesota traded Ingram to the Houston Texans on Thursday, two days after general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed right guard Will Fries from free agency.
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “Trade: Vikings guard Ed Ingram is being traded to the Texans, sources say, as Houston continued to rework their offensive line. The former 2nd rounder from LSU is on the move, thanks in part to Minnesota spending big on OL in free agency.”
The Vikings will get a 6th-Round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In Houston, Ingram will join the group of offensive guards:
- Juice Scruggs
- Laken Tomlinson
- Nick Broeker
- LaDarius Henderson
- Tremayne Anchrum Jr.
Ingram will likely battle Tomlinson, a free-agent newcomer in Houston, for a starter’s job.
Minnesota has rather limited draft capital in this April’s draft, but fans won’t mind the extra sweetener for next year’s event from the Ingram trade. Every little bit helps.
Ingram started for 2.5 seasons at right guard before being benched in favor of Dalton Risner in 2024. Minnesota gave Ingram 48 games to develop, but to date, he’s a below-average offensive lineman.
The Rams set that postseason record for sacks when they clobbered the Vikings in the Wildcard Round last season, knocking former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold flat 9 times. The Rams defeated the Vikings 27-9, ending Minnesota’s 14-3 win season.
Thereafter, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell vowed to improve. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback time. Especially with players like Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, we got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost,” O’Connell told reporters after the loss.
O’Connell added, “There can be a thousand excuses made. But, for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
The coach, along with his boss, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, made good on their vow.
Other trades could be in the works, too, for Minnesota. The Vikings also signed Ryan Kelly, a center, who will swipe Garrett Bradbury’s job. Bradbury could be traded next, perhaps to a team like the Atlanta Falcons or New England Patriots.
Linebacker Brian Asamoah might be a candidate as well.
Fans tentatively expect Adofo-Mensah to explore trading his 1st-Round pick (No. 24) for additional assets during the draft.
The Ingram trade frees up $3.4 million in cap space for the Vikings.
Ingram produced a 54.0 Pro Football Focus grade last season.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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