The Minnesota Vikings have certainly had their share of regrettable trades throughout their history, and some names stand out more than others. As we dive into the franchise’s past, two trades loom large: sending Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants in 1967, and the infamous deal for Herschel Walker in 1989. Oh, and we can’t forget the decision to part ways with Randy Moss in 2005. Each of these trades holds significant weight in the narrative of the team’s ups and downs.
Fast forward to more recent years, and current general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has inherited a legacy that includes both successes and missteps. Among the ghosts of trades past are the questionable deals made under former GM Rick Spielman—most notably, the penchant for accumulating a slew of late-round draft picks that didn’t always turn into solid contributors.
Kristopher Knox from Bleacher Report recently took up the task of identifying the worst trade for each NFL team over the last decade, and for the Vikings, he pinpointed the 2016 acquisition of quarterback Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles. This trade was made in a moment of desperation following the devastating injury to then-franchise quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
In the summer of 2016, the Vikings were coming off an impressive 11-win season and had high hopes for Bridgewater under head coach Mike Zimmer. Unfortunately, fate intervened during a late-August practice, where Bridgewater suffered a severe leg injury that not only sidelined him for the entirety of that season but also altered the trajectory of his career. It was a heart-wrenching moment for fans and the organization alike.
With Bridgewater unable to take the field, the Vikings turned to veteran Shaun Hill as their starting quarterback—a move that did little to inspire confidence for a team with playoff aspirations. Enter Bradford, a former first overall pick who had his own injury struggles in previous years, making him somewhat of a gamble. The Vikings sent a 2017 first-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2018 to Philadelphia, acquiring Bradford in hopes of stabilizing their QB situation.
Bradford did manage to lead the Vikings to a 5-0 start, showcasing an impressive completion percentage that led the league. However, the season ultimately unraveled, finishing with an 8-8 record. In hindsight, while Bradford wasn’t necessarily the issue, the compensation paid for him opened the door for the Eagles to draft defensive ends Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat—two players who have made their mark in the league.
Knox’s narrative points to a pivotal moment in the Vikings’ franchise history; Spielman found himself in “panic mode” as he attempted to salvage a season. However, the Bradford trade, while it may lack some foresight, isn’t deemed among the most egregious moves made during Spielman’s tenure. In fact, not even the worst trade in the last decade when viewed through the lens of the draft trade executed by Adofo-Mensah in his inaugural year.
When considering the landscape of the NFL, every general manager has their share of hits and misses. The Vikings’ story is a tapestry of decisions that reflect the highs and lows of a competitive league where every trade can reshape a franchise’s future.
