Vikings Pull Off Trade Heist
The Minnesota Vikings have embarked on a trading spree.
The Vikings pulled off a heist Sunday, landing substantial value in a surprising swap that reshapes the roster and leaves fans buzzing.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah sent Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday morning, a few days after shipping defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and a 7th-Round draft pick to the New York Jets for two 6th-Rounders.
And Minnesota somehow received wonderful value for Howell, who ended up being a Viking for four months.
Vikings Send Sam Howell to Eagles in Bold Move
It’s the second swap for Minnesota this week.
Sam Howell Shipped to the Eagles
Howell is an Eagle. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote Sunday, “The Minnesota Vikings have shaken up their depth behind starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, signing Carson Wentz and trading backup Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.”
“In exchange for Howell, the Vikings received a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Eagles. Philadelphia received a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Vikings along with Howell. The additional pick gives Minnesota more resources to pursue a veteran receiver to fill another hole in their depth chart.”
Had one polled fans before the Howell swap, most would not have assumed that a 5th-Rounder would be in play. Yet, the Eagles have an impressive war chest of draft capital, and they evidently didn’t mind including a 5th-Round asset.
Incredible Value on Return
Because Minnesota was apparently inching toward releasing Howell on Tuesday, the league’s deadline for all roster cuts, extracting a 5th-Rounder from the Howell package is quite remarkable.
Undrafted free-agent quarterback Max Brosmer, from the University of Minnesota, has set the world on fire at training camp and in the preseason, and Minnesota is content with him holding a backup quarterback position this season, the writing on the wall hints.
Fantasy Life‘s Thor Nystrom tweeted, “April: Seahawks trade QB Sam Howell and pick No. 172 (late-R5) to Vikings for pick No. 142 (early-R5). August: Vikings trade QB Sam Howell and a 2026 R6 to Eagles for a 2026 R5 and a 2027 R7. Howell looked bad in training camp and the Vikings still got more for him they gave.”
Adofo-Mensah basically used Howell like a flipped home renovation.
Ammunition for Subsequent Deal
Meanwhile, most fans expect Minnesota to fire off another deal at any moment or in the next several days, probably for a wide receiver, cornerback, or both.
Adam Thielen has popularly lived in the rumor mill, and an exchange with the Carolina Panthers could be imminent. Adofo-Mensah could package his fresh 5th-Rounder in the deal. Several other wideouts, like Alec Pierce of the Indianapolis Colts, might make sense, as well.
One thing feels certain: Minnesota feels virtually guaranteed to end up with a new receiver or two, especially with Jordan Addison suspended for three games and Rondale Moore out for the season.
Minnesota Signs Former Eagles QB Carson Wentz
Shortly before the Howell deal, Minnesota signed Carson Wentz, a nine-year veteran who spent five months on the free-agent block. Many thought Wentz would sign with the purple team way back in March or April, but a deal never came together.
However, with Howell expendable, Adofo-Mensah honed in on Wentz, and he’ll instantly become a backup option for QB1 J.J. McCarthy.
More on the Howell to PHI
NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack added context to the deal: “The decision was prompted by Minnesota agreeing to terms with Carson Wentz, a move Rapoport and Pelissero reported shortly after the trade and also confirmed by the Vikings.”
“For Howell, it marks his third time traded since March 2024, when he went from the Commanders’ 17-game starter to a backup for the Seahawks. He appeared in two games for Seattle last season before getting traded to Minnesota during the draft on April 26, Almost four months later to the day, the Vikes have now shipped him to the Eagles.”
Now, the question becomes for Minnesota: Who would take on the quarterback duties if something happened to J.J. McCarthy? Max Brosmer or Carson Wentz?
“Philadelphia acquiring Howell was necessitated by Tanner McKee recently injuring a finger on his throwing hand. For the time being, Howell can fill in as backup to Jalen Hurts. Increasingly well traveled, Howell sat out Minnesota’s preseason finale. He ended August with 118 passing yards and an interception on 12-of-18 passing,” Kownack continued.
“However, his last appearance in purple was a disaster in which he completed one of his five pass attempts for 13 yards and the aforementioned pick.”
Wentz will turn 33 around Christmas. Howell is still just 24.
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